Geoff Mulgan

“Health is already a dominant sector in most societies and the one most guaranteed to grow.”

“There are hardly any apprenticeships in care; hardly any schools preparing teenagers for jobs in care; and few signs that politicians know what to do to raise the status and rewards for what will soon be one of our most important industries.”

“The responsibility for good government lies not just with governments themselves but also with every other part of the system they operate in, including media, non-governmental organisations and the public.”

“The smug complacency of technology adverts disguises a pretty mixed picture, with too many people not connected, too many passive users of technologies designed for interactive, and far too much talk about empowerment but far too little action to make it happen.”

“On the environment and climate change, I suspect that future generations will think there was too much timidity, too much fear of upsetting business. Basically, New Labour was very nervous about regulating business, or requiring it to do anything, even when there was a very clear social or environmental case for doing so.”

“Radicalism is as British as tea and cakes, as much a part of our make-up as monarchy and football. It will never have its own jubilees, palaces or honours system.”

“Conflicts are never caused in any simple way by identity, culture or economics. Where resources are scarce, or there are strong historical memories of conflict, small events are more likely to inflame passions.”

“Advisers who think that they are very clever while all around them are a bit thick, and that all the problems of the world would be solved if the thick listened to the clever, are liable to be disappointed.”

“One effect of an individualistic culture that's poor at instilling mutual respect is that people jump more quickly to anger or violence.”

“The classic think-tank is supposed to be sitting in an attic thinking up grand ideas.”

“Democracy isn't solely about polite conversations in parliaments. It needs to be continually refreshed with raw passions, anger and ideals.”

“Many people leave government disillusioned about its ability to achieve change and cynical about politicians. I left with rather opposite lessons.”

“Britain is rich in radicalism, and anyone who says that our society has drifted into fatalism and apathy should get out more.”

“Spreading an idea is hard work.”

“The most important innovators often don't need any technologies - just imagination and acute sensitivity to people's needs.”

“The market turns out to be just one special case of collective decision-making.”

“It matters more how governments behave than how big they are.”

“The end of life is likely to be an important focus for innovation. Most people die in hospitals, tied up with tubes and with their bodies pumped full of drugs. Yet most would rather die at home and with more control over the timing and manner of their death.”

“The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the police had, and, just possibly, excused by the fact that a terrorist action in Britain linked to British Muslims would have been hugely damaging.”

“Vigorous independent and critical media are indispensable in a democracy.”