June 16, 2025

Do not believe those who say they have voluntarily relinquished power and position for love of peace and quiet. Nearly always, their reason was either levity or necessity. Experience shows that as soon as they are offered a chance to return to the former life, they leave behind their much-vaunted peace and quiet, and seize it with the same fury that fire seizes dry and oily things.

Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540), Italian historian and statesman, Ricordi, C, 17

How many politicians really want to spend more time with their families? Do you?

Can we then assume that Norman Fowler, who famously resigned from Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet “…to spend more time with my family”, was a barefaced liar.