Books Quote by Alan Bennett
““When they arrived at the palace she had a word with Grant, the young footman in charge, who said it was security and that while ma'am had been in the Lords the sniffer dogs had been round and security had confiscated the book. He though it had probably been exploded. 'Exploded?' said the Queen. 'But it was Anita Brookner.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Madness of George III, 1991
A queen suspects a book is dangerous, but the security officer claims it was destroyed for safety, revealing bureaucratic overreach and miscommunication.
In simple terms: Security claims a book was destroyed, causing confusion.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and verify facts.
Themes
authority
miscommunication
bureaucracy
trust
security
Mood
skeptical
curious
Type
dramatic
political
When to use this quote
- court intrigue
- government paperwork
- library censorship
- historical drama
Key Concepts
bureaucratic overreach
information control
institutional trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance safety with transparency?
- When should we trust official explanations?
A Different Perspective
Security may be overcautious, leading to unnecessary loss of knowledge.
