When once asked what he thought of western civilisation, the great Mahatma Gandhi was reported to have replied: “I think it would be a good idea."

It's a delicious quote, and one among a pantheon of diamonds us journalists often delve into.

Naturally, when looking for inspirational, poignant, and, indeed, hilarious rhetoric, we are also inevitably drawn to that rich vein of delectable quotes-to-be-mined that was Sir Winston Churchill. Sir Winston is famed, among many things, for his rebuttals to famed sparring partner Lady Astor.

Reportedly, she once declared to the dour statesman: “If I were married to you, sir, I’d put poison in your coffee.” Churchill's splendid reply was something to the ilk of: “Madam, if I were married to you, I should drink it.”

While it is nigh-on impossible not to fall in love with the wicked wit of Britain's greatest ever leader, these days I find myself drawn much more to the 24-carat gems delivered by one of his later public life contemporaries - our late

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