--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the third time that, in the…" description: "\"This is the third time that, in the course of six years, during which I have had the lead of the Opposition in the House of Commons, I have stormed the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/benjamin-disraeli-390_barren_this-is-the-third-time-that-in-the-cours_2159323.jpg" --- # This is the third time that, in the course of six years… ![“This is the third time that, in the course of six years, during which I have had the lead of the Opposition in the House of Commons, I have stormed the Treasury Benches: twice, fruitlessly, the third time with a tin kettle to my tail which rendered the race hopeless. You cannot, therefore, be…” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/benjamin-disraeli-390_barren_this-is-the-third-time-that-in-the-cours_2159323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/benjamin-disraeli-390_barren_this-is-the-third-time-that-in-the-cours_2159323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/benjamin-disraeli-390_barren_this-is-the-third-time-that-in-the-cours_2159323.jpg) > “This is the third time that, in the course of six years, during which I have had the lead of the Opposition in the House of Commons, I have stormed the Treasury Benches: twice, fruitlessly, the third time with a tin kettle to my tail which rendered the race hopeless. You cannot, therefore, be surprised, that I am a little wearied of these barren victories, which like Alma, Inkerman, and Balaclava, may be glorious but are certainly nothing more.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated political setbacks feel futile, likened to historic battles that were glorious yet ultimately meaningless. **In simple terms:** Political victories can feel empty and pointless. Key Takeaway Recognize when effort yields no real progress. Themes politics disillusionment history war victory Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - campaign planning - policy negotiation - public speaking - legislative strategy Key Concepts strategic futility historical analogy leadership fatigue Questions to Reflect On - Are you pursuing goals for genuine impact? - How do you measure meaningful success? A Different Perspective Success without substance can breed cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barren/) [Barren Victories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barren-victories-4575025/) [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Commons Stormed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commons-stormed-4575027/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [Hopeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeless/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [House Commons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-commons/) [House of commons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-of-commons/) [Kettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kettles/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Stormed Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stormed-treasury-4575026/) [Tails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tails/) [Third time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-time/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tin/) [Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasury/) [Treasury Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasury-benches-4575028/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-must-learn-to-do-economic-work-from-all-who-know-how-no-matter-who/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Many, many times I would shake my head in dismay at the goings-on in the House of Commons, but that never caused me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kenney/many-many-times-i-would-shake-my-head-in-dismay-at-the-goings-on-in/) [Jason Kenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kenney/) > [It's good to remember the unburied dead and the uncollected rubbish. Most of it can now be seen on the Labour benches in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-tebbit/it-s-good-to-remember-the-unburied-dead-and-the-uncollected-rubbish/) [Norman Tebbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-tebbit/) > [Only people who look dull ever get into the House of Commons, and only people who are dull ever succeed there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/only-people-who-look-dull-ever-get-into-the-house-of-commons-and-only/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I have never pretended to be a great House of Commons man, but I pay the House the greatest compliment I can by saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-have-never-pretended-to-be-a-great-house-of-commons-man-but-i-pay/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We have a saying in the House of Commons; that old ways are the safest and surest ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/we-have-a-saying-in-the-house-of-commons-that-old-ways-are-the-safest/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [I appeal to the contemptible speech made lately by Sir Robert Peel to an applauding House of Commons. 'Orders of merit,' said he, 'were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-joseph-griffin/i-appeal-to-the-contemptible-speech-made-lately-by-sir-robert-peel-to/) [John Joseph Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-joseph-griffin/) > [The House Of Commons has never been a tea-party. It consists of strong-minded, often very idealistic people, who are trying to accomplish something for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-fraser/the-house-of-commons-has-never-been-a-tea-party-it-consists-of-strong/) [John Allen Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-fraser/) > [“If necessary for years, if necessary alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-necessary-for-years-if-necessary-alone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Government have consistently made it clear that the mechanism in the United Kingdom whereby the European draft constitutional treaty could be implemented is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/the-government-have-consistently-made-it-clear-that-the-mechanism-in/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [The essence and foundation of House of Commons debating is formal conversation. The set speech, the harangue addressed to constituents, or to the wider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-essence-and-foundation-of-house-of-commons-debating-is-formal/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [ \[I\]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their-constitution-relies-on-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By my count, the Deputy Prime Minister has sworn an oath of loyalty and service to Her Majesty no fewer than four times in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-wayne/by-my-count-the-deputy-prime-minister-has-sworn-an-oath-of-loyalty/) [Elsie Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsie-wayne/) > [I'm not going to play politics on the floor of the House of Commons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-turner/i-m-not-going-to-play-politics-on-the-floor-of-the-house-of-commons/) [John Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-turner/) > [There is nowhere in the world where sleep is so deep as in the libraries of the House of Commons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-channon/there-is-nowhere-in-the-world-where-sleep-is-so-deep-as-in-the/) [Henry Channon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-channon/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Barren quotes > [“This book is written in a barren period of loss with an attempt to move forward towards substance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phindiwe-nkosi/this-book-is-written-in-a-barren-period-of-loss-with-an-attempt-to/) [Phindiwe Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phindiwe-nkosi/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [You may boldly say, you did not plough Or trust the barren and ungrateful sands With the fruitful grain of your religious counsels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-massinger/you-may-boldly-say-you-did-not-plough-or-trust-the-barren-and/) [Philip Massinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-massinger/) > [T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/t-is-liberty-crowns-britannia-s-isle-and-makes-her-barren-rocks-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [My icons do not raise up the blessed savior in elaborate cathedrals. They are constructed concentrations celebrating barren rooms. They bring a limited light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/my-icons-do-not-raise-up-the-blessed-savior-in-elaborate-cathedrals/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [“Just when normal life felt almost possible--when the world held some kind of order, meaning, even loveliness (prismatic spray of light through an icicle;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wroblewski/just-when-normal-life-felt-almost-possible-when-the-world-held-some/) [David Wroblewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wroblewski/) > [The apparition of an evil, sick unconscious wild city rose before me in visible semblance, and about the dead buildings in the barren air,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/the-apparition-of-an-evil-sick-unconscious-wild-city-rose-before-me/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Please don't settle for happiness. It's not good enough. Of course you deserve it, but if that's all you have in mind - happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/please-don-t-settle-for-happiness-it-s-not-good-enough-of-course-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [All men who live only according to their five senses, and seek nothing beyond the gratification of their natural appetites for pleasure and reputation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/all-men-who-live-only-according-to-their-five-senses-and-seek-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I find the aesthetics of the 20th century hopelessly barren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-find-the-aesthetics-of-the-20th-century-hopelessly-barren/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Perseverance gives power to weakness, and opens to poverty the world's wealth. It spreads fertility over the barren landscape, and buds the choicest flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-griswold-goodrich/perseverance-gives-power-to-weakness-and-opens-to-poverty-the-world-s/) [Samuel Griswold Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-griswold-goodrich/) > [“Life without love is nothing but a barren piece of land.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-ashok-anand/life-without-love-is-nothing-but-a-barren-piece-of-land/) [Dr. Ashok Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-ashok-anand/) > [Fruits fail and love dies and time ranges;Thou art fed with perpetual breath, and alive after infinite changes,And fresh from the kisses of death,Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/fruits-fail-and-love-dies-and-time-ranges-thou-art-fed-with-perpetual/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [By the deficiency or absence of one necessary constituent, all the others being present, the soil is rendered barren for all those crops to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-von-liebig/by-the-deficiency-or-absence-of-one-necessary-constituent-all-the/) [Justus von Liebig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justus-von-liebig/) [Browse all 324 Barren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barren/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the third time that, in the course of six years, during which I have had the lead of the Opposition in the House of Commons, I have stormed the Treasury Benches: twice, fruitlessly, the third time with a tin kettle to my tail which rendered the race hopeless. 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