But the development of human society does not go straight forward and the epic process will therefore be a recurring process, the series a recurring series - though not in exact repetition.

The Border Ballads, for instance, and the Robin Hood Ballads, clearly suppose a state of society which is nothing but a very circumscribed and not very important heroic age.

When you look at where the real problems are among minorities in our society, particularly blacks, it's at the bottom. It's the people who are in school systems that don't educate, neighborhoods where there is a lot of crime, drugs, the whole bit.

This could never be a crime in any society which deems himself enlightened.

We should like to have some towering geniuses, to reveal us to ourselves in colour and fire, but of course they would have to fit into the pattern of our society and be able to take orders from sound administrative types.

I want to initiate a change in society in the long term.

One thing that makes France different from other countries is the tradition of social solidarity. People from all backgrounds and political positions are willing to contribute for services and protection of society as a whole - but on the condition that money is being spent effectively and that everyone is paying their part.

History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself.

I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the right to attack that with which he disagrees.

I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must pay the price for differing. It is the natural way of things.