Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (The Karla Trilogy, #1)

by John Le Carré

The Russians were always more imaginative in this respect, living in daily contact with shoemakers (forgers), neighbours (members of a sister service), pianists (radio operators) and the like.

Sitting is an eloquent business; any actor will tell you that. We sit according to our natures. We sprawl and straddle, we rest like boxers between rounds, we fidget, perch, cross and uncross our legs, lose patience, lose endurance.

That in the hands of politicians grand designs achieve nothing but new forms of the old misery?