"There is barely a country in the world where you will be completely safe."

"I know that we shall meet problems along the way, but I'd far rather see for myself what's going on in the world outside, than rely on newspapers, television, politicians and religious leaders to tell me what I should be thinking."

"Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future."

"The trouble with travelling back later on is that you can never repeat the same experience."

"I think some of the best modern writing comes now from travellers."

"Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won't be made safer by creating barriers between people."

"One of the most important days of my life was when I learned to ride a bicycle."

"I am not a great cook, I am not a great artist, but I love art, and I love food, so I am the perfect traveller."

"I always wanted to be an explorer, but - it seemed I was doomed to be nothing more than a very silly person."

"People are still crazy about Python after twenty-five years, which I find hard to believe."

"I think you learn a lot about a country from its art. To me, it's part of the drama of life. It teaches you that there are places, moments and incidents in other cultures that genuinely have a life of their own."