--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Opposition aren't really the…" description: "\"The Opposition aren't really the Opposition. They're just called the Opposition. But in fact they are the Opposition in exile. The Civil Service are th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/antony-jay-41321_civil-service_the-opposition-aren-t-really-the-opposit_2226991.png" --- # The Opposition aren't really the Opposition. They're just… ![“The Opposition aren't really the Opposition. They're just called the Opposition. But in fact they are the Opposition in exile. The Civil Service are the Opposition in residence.” quote by Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/antony-jay-41321_civil-service_the-opposition-aren-t-really-the-opposit_2226991.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/antony-jay-41321_civil-service_the-opposition-aren-t-really-the-opposit_2226991.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/antony-jay-41321_civil-service_the-opposition-aren-t-really-the-opposit_2226991.png) > “The Opposition aren't really the Opposition. They're just called the Opposition. But in fact they are the Opposition in exile. The Civil Service are the Opposition in residence.” [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The formal Opposition is nominal; real dissent exists within the bureaucracy and exiled groups. **In simple terms:** Opposition is often just a label, not true dissent. Key Takeaway Recognize where real power and dissent lie. Themes politics power bureaucracy Mood analytical critical Type political observational When to use this quote - parliamentary sessions - policy making - government analysis Key Concepts institutional critique exile civil service Questions to Reflect On - Who truly challenges the status quo? - How can hidden opposition be identified? A Different Perspective Labels can mask actual influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-service/) [Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) ## Related quotes > [We already have a sabbatical system. It's called opposition, and I've had enough of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lawson/we-already-have-a-sabbatical-system-it-s-called-opposition-and-i-ve/) [Nigel Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lawson/) > [“That tiny part of your soul that believes in a ‘good government’ ideal requires you to avert your eyes from the segment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-geraghty/that-tiny-part-of-your-soul-that-believes-in-a-good-government-ideal/) [Jim Geraghty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-geraghty/) > [Donald Trump may undermine some of the traditional checks on the presidency: the press in particular, but also the various government and Congressional ethics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/donald-trump-may-undermine-some-of-the-traditional-checks-on-the/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [“Naturalization, on the other hand, also proved to be a failure. The whole naturalization system of European countries fell apart when it was confronted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/naturalization-on-the-other-hand-also-proved-to-be-a-failure-the/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [I urge the enactment of a civil service law so explicit and so strong that no partisan official will dare evade it, basing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-capper/i-urge-the-enactment-of-a-civil-service-law-so-explicit-and-so-strong/) [Arthur Capper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-capper/) > [“Rule by decree has conspicuous advantages for the domination of far-flung territories with heterogeneous populations and for a policy of oppression. Its efficiency is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/rule-by-decree-has-conspicuous-advantages-for-the-domination-of-far/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“Many observers were disturbed by all the uniformed men striding the White House corridors. In a broad-brush indictment, Charles Sumner disapproved of the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/many-observers-were-disturbed-by-all-the-uniformed-men-striding-the/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Being in opposition takes some getting used to. As a former minister, you don't just lose your job and the enormous resources of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/being-in-opposition-takes-some-getting-used-to-as-a-former-minister/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [In 1925, when Britain went back to the gold standard, that was supported by the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Bank of England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-balls/in-1925-when-britain-went-back-to-the-gold-standard-that-was/) [Ed Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-balls/) > [“People enter politics or the Civil Service out of a desire to exert power and influence events; this, I maintain, is an illness. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/people-enter-politics-or-the-civil-service-out-of-a-desire-to-exert/) [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) > [I don't like the royal family, I don't like the establishment, I don't like the civil service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-the-royal-family-i-don-t-like-the-establishment-i-don-t/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [“Several studies of thousands of British civil servants (the Whitehall studies) have found that workers who have little control over their jobs—meaning they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wheelan/several-studies-of-thousands-of-british-civil-servants-the-whitehall/) [Charles Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wheelan/) > [I am confident that this legislature will rise above partisan bickering, especially after the public promises its members made last fall, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-am-confident-that-this-legislature-will-rise-above-partisan/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [I am supremely humbled to receive the 40 Under Forty honor by Stony Brook University in the category of Civil Service and Activism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momina-mustehsan/i-am-supremely-humbled-to-receive-the-40-under-forty-honor-by-stony/) [Momina Mustehsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momina-mustehsan/) > [“Whatand why were never questions for me. How was the only question. When I look back now, I realize that I never thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhguru/whatand-why-were-never-questions-for-me-how-was-the-only-question/) [Sadhguru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhguru/) ## More by Antony Jay > [ In corporation \[corporate\] religions as in others, the heretic must be cast out not because of the probability that he is wrong but because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/in-corporation-corporate-religions-as-in-others-the-heretic-must-be/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [Referring the matter to a committee' can be a device for diluting authority, diffusing responsibility and delaying decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/referring-the-matter-to-a-committee-can-be-a-device-for-diluting/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [You can judge a leader by the size of the problem he tackles - people nearly always pick a problem their own size, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/you-can-judge-a-leader-by-the-size-of-the-problem-he-tackles-people/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [You can judge a leader by the size of the problem he tackles... Other people can cope with the waves, it's his job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/you-can-judge-a-leader-by-the-size-of-the-problem-he-tackles-other/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/the-uncreative-mind-can-spot-wrong-answers-but-it-takes-a-very/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [He's suffering from Politicians' Logic. Something must be done, this is something, therefore we must do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/he-s-suffering-from-politicians-logic-something-must-be-done-this-is/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [“Don't tell me about the Press. I know \*exactly\* who reads the papers. The Daily Mirror is read by the people who think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/don-t-tell-me-about-the-press-i-know-exactly-who-reads-the-papers-the/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [Men grow to the stature to which they are stretched when they are young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/men-grow-to-the-stature-to-which-they-are-stretched-when-they-are/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) > [There is this great idea about the logic of a politician, along the lines of: "Something must be done, this is something, therefore we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-jay/there-is-this-great-idea-about-the-logic-of-a-politician-along-the/) [Antony Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) [Explore all 10 Antony Jay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-jay/) ## More Civil service quotes > [“Whatand why were never questions for me. How was the only question. When I look back now, I realize that I never thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhguru/whatand-why-were-never-questions-for-me-how-was-the-only-question/) [Sadhguru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhguru/) > [I am supremely humbled to receive the 40 Under Forty honor by Stony Brook University in the category of Civil Service and Activism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momina-mustehsan/i-am-supremely-humbled-to-receive-the-40-under-forty-honor-by-stony/) [Momina Mustehsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momina-mustehsan/) > [I am confident that this legislature will rise above partisan bickering, especially after the public promises its members made last fall, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-am-confident-that-this-legislature-will-rise-above-partisan/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [“Several studies of thousands of British civil servants (the Whitehall studies) have found that workers who have little control over their jobs—meaning they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wheelan/several-studies-of-thousands-of-british-civil-servants-the-whitehall/) [Charles Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wheelan/) > [I don't like the royal family, I don't like the establishment, I don't like the civil service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-the-royal-family-i-don-t-like-the-establishment-i-don-t/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [“People enter politics or the Civil Service out of a desire to exert power and influence events; this, I maintain, is an illness. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/people-enter-politics-or-the-civil-service-out-of-a-desire-to-exert/) [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) > [In 1925, when Britain went back to the gold standard, that was supported by the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Bank of England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-balls/in-1925-when-britain-went-back-to-the-gold-standard-that-was/) [Ed Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-balls/) > [Being in opposition takes some getting used to. As a former minister, you don't just lose your job and the enormous resources of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/being-in-opposition-takes-some-getting-used-to-as-a-former-minister/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“Many observers were disturbed by all the uniformed men striding the White House corridors. In a broad-brush indictment, Charles Sumner disapproved of the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/many-observers-were-disturbed-by-all-the-uniformed-men-striding-the/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [“Rule by decree has conspicuous advantages for the domination of far-flung territories with heterogeneous populations and for a policy of oppression. Its efficiency is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/rule-by-decree-has-conspicuous-advantages-for-the-domination-of-far/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [I urge the enactment of a civil service law so explicit and so strong that no partisan official will dare evade it, basing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-capper/i-urge-the-enactment-of-a-civil-service-law-so-explicit-and-so-strong/) [Arthur Capper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-capper/) > [“Naturalization, on the other hand, also proved to be a failure. The whole naturalization system of European countries fell apart when it was confronted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/naturalization-on-the-other-hand-also-proved-to-be-a-failure-the/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Donald Trump may undermine some of the traditional checks on the presidency: the press in particular, but also the various government and Congressional ethics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/donald-trump-may-undermine-some-of-the-traditional-checks-on-the/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [“That tiny part of your soul that believes in a ‘good government’ ideal requires you to avert your eyes from the segment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-geraghty/that-tiny-part-of-your-soul-that-believes-in-a-good-government-ideal/) [Jim Geraghty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-geraghty/) > [My first jobs were all civil service. At 14, I worked for the Canadian National Railways. At 16, I worked for the Canadian Penitentiary Service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/my-first-jobs-were-all-civil-service-at-14-i-worked-for-the-canadian/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) [Browse all 82 Civil service quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-service/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Opposition aren't really the Opposition. They're just called the Opposition. But in fact they are the Opposition in exile. 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