---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No congratulations?’ Derry said…"
description: "\"“No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No “well done, Derry”? I am disappointed in you, William Pole. There’s not many men could have pulled thi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg"
---

#  No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No “well…

![“No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No “well done, Derry”? I am disappointed in you, William Pole. There’s not many men could have pulled this off in such a time, but I have, haven’t I? The French looked for foxes and found only innocent chickens, just like we wanted. The marriage will go…” quote by Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg)

> ““No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No “well done, Derry”? I am disappointed in you, William Pole. There’s not many men could have pulled this off in such a time, but I have, haven’t I? The French looked for foxes and found only innocent chickens, just like we wanted. The marriage will go ahead and all we need to do now is mention casually to the English living in Maine and Anjou that their service is no longer appreciated by the Crown. In short, that they can fuck off.””

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A sarcastic boast about a successful, ruthless political maneuver, dismissing any praise and threatening former allies.

**In simple terms:** A cunning leader celebrates a harsh victory and tells former allies to leave.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the cost of ruthless ambition.

Themes

politics power betrayal humor

Mood

cynical defiant darkly humorous

Type

satirical political dramatic

When to use this quote

- military campaigns
- diplomatic negotiations
- colonial administration
- political intrigue

Key Concepts

realpolitik strategic deception pragmatism

Questions to Reflect On

- Is the victory worth the lasting enmity?
- How does humor mask cruelty?

A Different Perspective

May alienate allies and provoke retaliation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Congratulations Derry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congratulations-derry-4874060/) [Derry Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derry-disappointed-4874057/) [Derry Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derry-said-4874059/) [Disappointed William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed-william-4874058/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Wanted Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-marriage-1318415/) [Well done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-done/)

## Related quotes

> [No one wanted that marriage, no one. Even Mahatma Gandhi wasn't happy about it. As for my father...it's not true that he opposed it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/no-one-wanted-that-marriage-no-one-even-mahatma-gandhi-wasn-t-happy/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [“that this is what I wanted my marriage to be like? This cold, unfeeling, back and forth that has left nothing but resentment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francette-phal/that-this-is-what-i-wanted-my-marriage-to-be-like-this-cold-unfeeling/)

[Francette Phal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francette-phal/)

> [“I could only see you. I only wanted to be with you. But marriage is never just two people, is it? It's so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mccabe/i-could-only-see-you-i-only-wanted-to-be-with-you-but-marriage-is/)

[Amanda McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mccabe/)

> [But I wanted marriage for myself. I was not calculating about it. I wish I was more calculating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mccartney/but-i-wanted-marriage-for-myself-i-was-not-calculating-about-it-i/)

[Linda McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mccartney/)

> [“Leyel had buried himself within the marriage, helping and serving and loving Deet with all his heart. She was wrong, completely wrong about his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/leyel-had-buried-himself-within-the-marriage-helping-and-serving-and/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [I have a friend who once said, 'If you invite People Magazine to your wedding, then they should be allowed to come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-have-a-friend-who-once-said-if-you-invite-people-magazine-to-your/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [I wanted my marriage to work, but it didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/i-wanted-my-marriage-to-work-but-it-didn-t/)

[Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/)

> [“Too many couples enter marriage blinded by unrealistic expectations. They believe the relationship should be characterized by a high level of continuous romantic love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boehi/too-many-couples-enter-marriage-blinded-by-unrealistic-expectations/)

[David Boehi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boehi/)

> [I worked with John, but I had enough sense to walk just a little ways behind him. I could have made more records, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-carter-cash/i-worked-with-john-but-i-had-enough-sense-to-walk-just-a-little-ways/)

[June Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-carter-cash/)

> [“She wanted to explain everything to him—how certain notes of the Moonlight Sonata shredded her heart like wind inside a paper bag; how her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/she-wanted-to-explain-everything-to-him-how-certain-notes-of-the/)

[Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/)

> [I feel the next 4 years will bring great things. I've never had this much hope for our country. Well done America, well done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/i-feel-the-next-4-years-will-bring-great-things-i-ve-never-had-this/)

[Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/)

> [The smallest task, well done, becomes a miracle of achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/the-smallest-task-well-done-becomes-a-miracle-of-achievement/)

[Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/)

> [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [“I've always been after the trappings of great luxury. But all I've got hold of are the trappings of great poverty. I've got hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cook/i-ve-always-been-after-the-trappings-of-great-luxury-but-all-i-ve-got/)

[Peter Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cook/)

## More by Conn Iggulden

> [“Sung Win smiled to himself, enjoying the tension across his shoulders and the way his pulse beat in his veins. All life involved risk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/sung-win-smiled-to-himself-enjoying-the-tension-across-his-shoulders/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“As he prepared to ride on, he chuckled at the thought of the wolf entering the sheepfold. He would not ride with fire and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/as-he-prepared-to-ride-on-he-chuckled-at-the-thought-of-the-wolf/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“Keep a line of retreat,’ Warwick ordered. To his disgust, his voice trembled and he cleared his throat loudly before going on with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/keep-a-line-of-retreat-warwick-ordered-to-his-disgust-his-voice/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“The Assassin fortress in Alamut came under attack by Hulegu’s forces around 1256. The head of the Muslim sect that held the fortress of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/the-assassin-fortress-in-alamut-came-under-attack-by-hulegu-s-forces/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“Richard felt his spirits begin to recover and he raised his hand to the crowds, though it made his back ache. It was worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/richard-felt-his-spirits-begin-to-recover-and-he-raised-his-hand-to/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“I have been distracted from my duty as a father to some extent, but there is no greater exercise to a man’s talents than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/i-have-been-distracted-from-my-duty-as-a-father-to-some-extent-but/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“We are all fools with our sons. We wipe them and suckle them and all we expect is for them to be grateful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/we-are-all-fools-with-our-sons-we-wipe-them-and-suckle-them-and-all/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“Winter is our time. They shut up their cities for the cold months. They put their horses in stables and sit around great fires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/winter-is-our-time-they-shut-up-their-cities-for-the-cold-months-they/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [Men respect the silent; they despise the garrulous. - Marius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/men-respect-the-silent-they-despise-the-garrulous-marius/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“It was a revelation as important as any other in its way – that expert men love their subject. Show them interest, show them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/it-was-a-revelation-as-important-as-any-other-in-its-way-that-expert/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“The man attempted to salute and Renius forced himself to smile, biting back his temper at the sloppy manners. He watched the fat figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/the-man-attempted-to-salute-and-renius-forced-himself-to-smile-biting/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [We are the silver people, the Mongols. When they ask, tell them there are no tribes. Tell them I am khan of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/we-are-the-silver-people-the-mongols-when-they-ask-tell-them-there/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [Courage cannot be left like bones in a bag. It must be brought out and shown the light again and again, growing stronger each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/courage-cannot-be-left-like-bones-in-a-bag-it-must-be-brought-out-and/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“It was rare for Richard to have hands clear of broken blisters or his body unbruised. When he was weak of will, as his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/it-was-rare-for-richard-to-have-hands-clear-of-broken-blisters-or-his/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

> [“Warwick breathed out slowly. He could her the noise of the descending duke and he turned back to the Plantagenet armies of York -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/warwick-breathed-out-slowly-he-could-her-the-noise-of-the-descending/)

[Conn Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

[Explore all 29 Conn Iggulden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/)

## More Humour quotes

> [“law that stated you didn't advertise any event you hadn't attended, any place you'd never been, or any band you didn't really listen to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhairi-mcfarlane/law-that-stated-you-didn-t-advertise-any-event-you-hadn-t-attended/)

[Mhairi McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhairi-mcfarlane/)

> [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/)

[Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/)

> [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/)

[Noelle Oxenhandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-oxenhandler/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [“What if," replied Inspector Fry in the same maddeningly curteous tone, "we were all to construct daisy chains and drape them so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndsay-faye/what-if-replied-inspector-fry-in-the-same-maddeningly-curteous-tone/)

[Lyndsay Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndsay-faye/)

> [You owe me a drink, you're so ugly I dropped mine when I saw you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-owe-me-a-drink-you-re-so-ugly-i-dropped-mine-when-i-saw-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [“Holy shit," somebody muttered in the dark. "A virgin," sputtered another. "I didn't know they still made them." "He just did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/holy-shit-somebody-muttered-in-the-dark-a-virgin-sputtered-another-i/)

[Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/)

> [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [“John, let me make one thing clear,” Jim said, cutting me off in his most stern, evangelical voice. “Every man is blessed with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/john-let-me-make-one-thing-clear-jim-said-cutting-me-off-in-his-most/)

[David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/)

> [Self-deprecating humour is a common form of comedy and it helps get the audience on side because you're being vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/self-deprecating-humour-is-a-common-form-of-comedy-and-it-helps-get/)

[Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/)

> [“Life is like yoga; the only way you can enjoy it is by relaxing into any position you happen to find yourself in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-wakeham/life-is-like-yoga-the-only-way-you-can-enjoy-it-is-by-relaxing-into/)

[Jon Wakeham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-wakeham/)

> [“Charlotte Richmond says of herself: “I have few ladylike accomplishments. I cannot sing, I cannot draw, I cannot play the pianoforte or the harp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-slade/charlotte-richmond-says-of-herself-i-have-few-ladylike/)

[Nicola Slade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-slade/)

> [“But even if they could go home it would be difficult for me to tell you what the moral of the story is. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/but-even-if-they-could-go-home-it-would-be-difficult-for-me-to-tell/)

[Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/)

[Browse all 3,815 Humour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No “well done, Derry”? I am disappointed in you, William Pole. There’s not many men could have pulled this off in such a time, but I have, haven’t I? The French looked for foxes and found only innocent chickens, just like we wanted. The marriage will go ahead and all we need to do now is mention casually to the English living in Maine and Anjou that their service is no longer appreciated by the Crown. In short, that they can fuck off.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Conn Iggulden"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully-no-well-done-derry-i-am/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Humour"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully-no-well-done-derry-i-am/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/conn-iggulden-21255_humour_no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully_596865.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No “well done, Derry”? I am disappointed in you, William Pole…” — Conn Iggulden",
                "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": "Conn Iggulden",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-iggulden/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“No congratulations?’ Derry said cheerfully. ‘No...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully-no-well-done-derry-i-am/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-iggulden/no-congratulations-derry-said-cheerfully-no-well-done-derry-i-am/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
