Winston Churchill once said, "I never say 'it gives me great pleasure' to speak to any audience because there are only a few activities from which I derive intense pleasure, and speaking is not one of them."

It was a precept he violated only once. At the Other Club, an informal group he organized to discuss ideas and politics, a standard rite was an extemporaneous talk. From one hat a name of a member was drawn, and from another a topic. Once, Churchill's name was drawn a long with the subject "Sex." Churchill rose and, pointing to the card, began "It gives me great pleasure..." and then sat down."

James C. Humes, Civilization magazine