--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall not miss the hectoring and…" description: "\"I shall not miss the hectoring and backbiting and the lack of generosity towards fallen foes, but I will miss the sheer clubability of parliament. If o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png" --- # I shall not miss the hectoring and backbiting and the lack… ![“I shall not miss the hectoring and backbiting and the lack of generosity towards fallen foes, but I will miss the sheer clubability of parliament. If one fancies a coffee or a meal or a drink then it is always possible to find at least one person out of 646 whose company is congenial.” quote by Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png) > “I shall not miss the hectoring and backbiting and the lack of generosity towards fallen foes, but I will miss the sheer clubability of parliament. If one fancies a coffee or a meal or a drink then it is always possible to find at least one person out of 646 whose company is congenial.” [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parliamentary life is harsh yet enjoyable; while lacking generosity, its social interactions remain valuable. **In simple terms:** Parliament is tough but offers good company. Key Takeaway Appreciate the camaraderie despite flaws. Themes politics social dynamics institution Mood wry observational Type political satirical When to use this quote - legislative work - networking events - political gatherings Key Concepts civic engagement institutional critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster generosity in competitive environments? - What role does humor play in political life? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) ## Related quotes > [“The second I left my old life's cowpath, I discovered I didn't need a drink. It became possible to stand still in the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-percy/the-second-i-left-my-old-life-s-cowpath-i-discovered-i-didn-t-need-a/) [Walker Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-percy/) > [Parliament was an institution of enormous standing when I was aspiring to go in. It isn't now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/parliament-was-an-institution-of-enormous-standing-when-i-was/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Having served as a member of parliament for more than two decades, I'm well aware that there can be genuine constraints that affect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/having-served-as-a-member-of-parliament-for-more-than-two-decades-i-m/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Kings or parliaments could not give the rights essential to happiness... We claim them from a higher source - from the King of kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickinson/kings-or-parliaments-could-not-give-the-rights-essential-to-happiness/) [John Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickinson/) > [Well, if you look at the programme that we're offering, I think that is a future which is fair for women as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-harman/well-if-you-look-at-the-programme-that-we-re-offering-i-think-that-is/) [Harriet Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-harman/) > [We have members of Parliament from all over the country, many of whom have a difference of opinion on some issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-scheer/we-have-members-of-parliament-from-all-over-the-country-many-of-whom/) [Andrew Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-scheer/) > [“What can I say to convince you the Houses of Parliament dissolve night after night to become the fluid dream of the Thames? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/what-can-i-say-to-convince-you-the-houses-of-parliament-dissolve/) [Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/) > [ I felt really compromised. I think legal marriage is unnecessary and I would not have formalised the relationship \[with husband Peter Davis\] except for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/i-felt-really-compromised-i-think-legal-marriage-is-unnecessary-and-i/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [I don't want to privatise part of the parliament, like some people in Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pinchuk/i-don-t-want-to-privatise-part-of-the-parliament-like-some-people-in/) [Victor Pinchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pinchuk/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [When I was pregnant during my time in Parliament, I was frequently asked by the media how I would manage being an MP and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/when-i-was-pregnant-during-my-time-in-parliament-i-was-frequently/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [Singaporeans like Mr. Alfian Sa'at do not deserve to be admonished in Parliament on the basis of a selective reading of their works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/singaporeans-like-mr-alfian-sa-at-do-not-deserve-to-be-admonished-in/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by Ann Widdecombe > [It is quite wrong that one group of people should regularly and deliberately flout the law, boast about it and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-quite-wrong-that-one-group-of-people-should-regularly-and/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [In the 1990s, while the Maastricht debate was raging, I was a minister in the Major government. Every single piece of legislation we proposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/in-the-1990s-while-the-maastricht-debate-was-raging-i-was-a-minister/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I cannot bear the language TV chefs use - they don't seem able to look at a plate of vegetables without accusing it of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-cannot-bear-the-language-tv-chefs-use-they-don-t-seem-able-to-look/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I am not an enthusiast when it comes to cities, preferring rolling scenery, wildlife and stars to museums, monuments, architecture and traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-am-not-an-enthusiast-when-it-comes-to-cities-preferring-rolling/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Believing in God was something I took as much for granted as the air I breathed. Religion wasn't something that came out of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/believing-in-god-was-something-i-took-as-much-for-granted-as-the-air/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I think the rest of the world will think we're made, and indeed we are. We've turned out the greatest Prime Minister in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-think-the-rest-of-the-world-will-think-we-re-made-and-indeed-we-are/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [In 1999 my father died and my mother was coming to live with me. So I left my Kennington flat and bought a house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/in-1999-my-father-died-and-my-mother-was-coming-to-live-with-me-so-i/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Cats are ideal for politicians. I had two when I arrived at Westminster, Sooty and Sweep, who had come with a flat I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/cats-are-ideal-for-politicians-i-had-two-when-i-arrived-at/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [If I were queen for a day, every city would have to spend one hour in utter silence: no music in shops and restaurants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/if-i-were-queen-for-a-day-every-city-would-have-to-spend-one-hour-in/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [The postcode lottery means that the level of care you get differs hugely around the country, and the health service simply cannot meet every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-postcode-lottery-means-that-the-level-of-care-you-get-differs/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Almost anybody from the past will hold views discordant with the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/almost-anybody-from-the-past-will-hold-views-discordant-with-the/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [The Arctic has huge glaciers, frozen waterfalls and floating ice. This is scenery on which man has left no mark, which has stayed unchanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/the-arctic-has-huge-glaciers-frozen-waterfalls-and-floating-ice-this/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [Always carry a handkerchief. Especially in television studios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/always-carry-a-handkerchief-especially-in-television-studios/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I suspect my own journey to Brexit has closely followed that of Britain's. I had doubts, then I decided we should stay in, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-suspect-my-own-journey-to-brexit-has-closely-followed-that-of/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [I am a Conservative: I'm never going to be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-am-a-conservative-i-m-never-going-to-be-anything-else/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) [Explore all 109 Ann Widdecombe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I shall not miss the hectoring and backbiting and the lack of generosity towards fallen foes, but I will miss the sheer clubability of parliament. If one fancies a coffee or a meal or a drink then it is always possible to find at least one person out of 646 whose company is congenial.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Widdecombe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backbiting-and-the-lack-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backbiting-and-the-lack-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/ann-widdecombe-4586_business_i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backb_3189981.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I shall not miss the hectoring and backbiting and the lack of generosity towards fallen foes, but I will…” — Ann Widdecombe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Widdecombe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I shall not miss the hectoring...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backbiting-and-the-lack-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/i-shall-not-miss-the-hectoring-and-backbiting-and-the-lack-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```