Like so many other grammar schools that flourished in Britain before they were abolished through a mix of ideology and political folly, Harrow County was a fiercely competitive institution, where all boys were taught to strive for excellence. It was precisely because of this demanding regime that results were so good.

Michael Portillo

Categorized in : Like Good Excellence Political

I will say what I want to say. I had some homosexual experiences as a young person.

Michael Portillo

homosexuality young want

If life is a soap opera you shouldn't be in too much of a hurry to get to the final credits.

Michael Portillo

credit finals death

The disease of debt has reached the top. And once it reaches the top it has no-where else to go.

Michael Portillo

debt disease

You never quite know what you do in life that leaves a seed behind that grows into an oak tree.

Michael Portillo

never you tree life

I look back on my schooldays with a warm glow of nostalgia.

Michael Portillo

glow back look nostalgia

People wear extraordinarily bright colours in India.

Michael Portillo

wear bright india people

Of all the places I've visited in my life, Egypt has been the most fascinating. I've explored almost the whole country: Cairo and the Pyramids, Alexandria, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valleys of the Kings and the Queens and the Nobles.

Michael Portillo

my-life egypt life country

I love a good meal on a train, and if I'm travelling on a discount ticket, the challenge is to eat more than the price of the fare.

Michael Portillo

eat challenge good love

The true symbolism of every facet of 'Guernica' can only be guessed at, but we do know that it haunted Picasso.

Michael Portillo

true only know symbolism

No restaurant, however brilliantly situated, can give you the constantly changing views that you can see from a railway. Revolving restaurants at the tops of tall buildings try to compete, but spinning around is no substitute for speeding along.

Michael Portillo

buildings restaurant see you

Personal responsibility matters.

Michael Portillo

matters personal responsibility

From Brighton to Bradford, from Suffolk to Somerset, I have explored some remarkable buildings and structures that, in different ways, have helped to shed light on the way modern Britain has developed.

Michael Portillo

buildings different light way

Music turns the world upside down.

Michael Portillo

down upside-down music world

My favourite British line is the West Highland line. It was built across moorland where no one had succeeded in building a road. So everything in that area is there because of the railway line.

Michael Portillo

road everything railway building

Some people are born to trains, and some have trains thrust upon them. Fortunately, I can be included in this latter category.

Michael Portillo

some-people born i-can people

I have liked trains since I was a boy, although I was never a train-spotter.

Michael Portillo

trains since boy never

British-built railways in India helped the British to make money and maintain order; but, as a by-product, they served to unite the country, making it ripe for independence.

Michael Portillo

independence india money country

It's a dilemma for every modern parent - how to keep children safe on social media without monitoring their every post.

Michael Portillo

social-media media parent children

If, like me, you're interested in history, Egypt is a place of wonders. It's the land of many civilisations, including Greek, Roman, Christian, and Muslim.

Michael Portillo

place me you history

If you are a fan of my BBC series 'Great Continental Railway Journeys,' you'll probably not be surprised to learn that one of my great aspirations is to travel on Egypt's railways.

Michael Portillo

great you egypt travel