comes in many different robes: quiet, contemplative, studious, vivid, and sometimes quite mad. I’m endlessly curious, about international politics, countries I’ve never been to, how new ideas develop and reframe doctrines, theories of conflict, and where to buy the best bottle of spicy red wine for under a tenner. Einstein famously said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” But this, from another old friend of mine, late one night: “Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.” Ace.