My mother begged doctors to end her life. She was beyond the physical ability to swallow enough of the weak morphine pills she had around her. When she knew she was dying I promised to make sure she could go at a time of her choosing, but it was impossible. I couldn't help. Polly Toynbee abilitybegchoose share on social
Most people come to fear not death itself, but the many terrible ways of dying. Polly Toynbee deathdiefear Change image and share on social
But instead of standing up for reason, our government is handing education over to the world of faith. Polly Toynbee educationfaithgovernment Change image and share on social
How do you make any sense of history, art or literature without knowing the stories and iconography of your own culture and all the world's main religions? Polly Toynbee artculturehistory Change image and share on social
Could a government dare to set out with happiness as its goal? Now that there are accepted scientific proofs, it would be easy to audit the progress of national happiness annually, just as we monitor money and GDP. Polly Toynbee acceptannuallyaudit share on social
Happiness is a real, objective phenomenon, scientifically verifiable. That means people and whole societies can now be measured over time and compared accurately with one another. Causes and cures for unhappiness can be quantified. Polly Toynbee accuratelycomparecure share on social
My Lords temporal, today is the day to rise up against the regiment of Lords spiritual and proclaim the values of enlightenment, compassion and common sense. Polly Toynbee commoncompassionday Change image and share on social
So what really works? Treatments in jail do some good, but it's mostly too late: finding a family and a job or just growing older make most prisoners eventually give up crime. Polly Toynbee crimeeventuallyfamily Change image and share on social
One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. These are not the worried well but those in severe mental pain with conditions crippling enough to prevent them living normal lives. Polly Toynbee anxietychroniccondition Change image and share on social
Inequality makes everyone unhappy, the poor most of all, and that is well within the remit of the state. More money gives less extra happiness the richer we get, yet we are addicted to earning and spending more every year. Polly Toynbee addictearnextra share on social
