For me, the reputation for teaching language in general, and East European languages most particularly, gave Glasgow University, and by reflection the country, a distinction.

Chater: You dare to call me that. I demand satisfaction!

Septimus: Mrs Chater demanded satisfaction and now you are demanding satisfaction. I cannot spend my time day and night satisfying the demands of the Chater family.

I want to support the whole idea of the humanities and teaching the humanities as being something that - even if it can't be quantitatively measured as other subjects - it's as fundamental to all education.

We all started somewhere. When I started teaching at the university level, I didn't want to teach freshmen. Then I saw that you have the biggest impact on people who have the least experience. I have a special place in my heart for the novice player.

the single most promising composition student that I have worked with in my 37 years of university teaching.

A senior always feels like the university is going to the kids