--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Old-fashioned types used to mutter about…" description: "\"Old-fashioned types used to mutter about whether someone was officer-class material. It's a phrase stuck firmly in the 1950s, but it expresses an under..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/damian-green-4883_1950s_old-fashioned-types-used-to-mutter-about_1549171.png" --- # Old-fashioned types used to mutter about whether someone… ![“Old-fashioned types used to mutter about whether someone was officer-class material. It's a phrase stuck firmly in the 1950s, but it expresses an underlying truth: either you are fit to lead or you are not.” quote by Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/damian-green-4883_1950s_old-fashioned-types-used-to-mutter-about_1549171.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/damian-green-4883_1950s_old-fashioned-types-used-to-mutter-about_1549171.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/499/damian-green-4883_1950s_old-fashioned-types-used-to-mutter-about_1549171.png) > “Old-fashioned types used to mutter about whether someone was officer-class material. It's a phrase stuck firmly in the 1950s, but it expresses an underlying truth: either you are fit to lead or you are not.” [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership is binary: one is either suited to lead or not, reflecting social class judgments of the era. **In simple terms:** You either fit to lead or you don’t. Key Takeaway Recognize your leadership potential early. Themes leadership class selfassessment Mood reflective critical Type advice analysis When to use this quote - career advancement - military promotion - team selection - political candidacy Key Concepts social hierarchy identity authority Questions to Reflect On - Do you see yourself as leader material? - How do class biases affect leadership perception? A Different Perspective Leadership can be developed, not just innate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1950s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zz-1950s-413/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Fashioned Types](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashioned-types-5785883/) [Fit Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit-lead-2687210/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Officer Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officer-class-5785884/) [Old fashioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-fashioned/) [Phrase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrase/) [Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [The day I am afraid to do, that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-day-i-am-afraid-to-do-that-is-the-day-i-am-no-longer-fit-to-lead/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the highest-ranking officer, and third in my class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-major-the-highest-ranking/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [The Metropolitan Police Service is still, despite what people think, a working-class organisation and as such rejects totally the notion of an officer class.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-metropolitan-police-service-is-still-despite-what-people-think-a/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [Berlusconi is no longer fit to lead our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romano-prodi/berlusconi-is-no-longer-fit-to-lead-our-country/) [Romano Prodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romano-prodi/) > [“In the 1950s at least less was expected of women. Now we're supposed to build a career, build a home, be the supermum that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/in-the-1950s-at-least-less-was-expected-of-women-now-we-re-supposed/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“When they reached their ship, Ed gazed out at the bay. It was black. The sky was black, but the bay was even blacker.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-zlotchew/when-they-reached-their-ship-ed-gazed-out-at-the-bay-it-was-black-the/) [Clark Zlotchew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-zlotchew/) > [“Disneyland was one perfect answer. It provided, an almost sacred space where it is permissible and safe to let one's guard down, take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-le-mon/disneyland-was-one-perfect-answer-it-provided-an-almost-sacred-space/) [Leslie Le Mon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-le-mon/) > [“Nixon had sought the treatment of a psychiatrist throughout the 1950s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colapietro-roger-stone/nixon-had-sought-the-treatment-of-a-psychiatrist-throughout-the-1950s/) [Mike Colapietro Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colapietro-roger-stone/) > [We had a very upwardly mobile economy, and that peaked around the 1950s when the typical middle-class American family consisted of a father with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/we-had-a-very-upwardly-mobile-economy-and-that-peaked-around-the/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [I am a product of the 1950s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-jo-rupp/i-am-a-product-of-the-1950s/) [Debra Jo Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-jo-rupp/) > [What we're most aware of in 'Eight-Legged Freaks' is how similar it is to other movies, a recombinant mutated species itself, the product of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/what-we-re-most-aware-of-in-eight-legged-freaks-is-how-similar-it-is/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [In the early 1950s, during the near avalanche of discoveries, rediscoveries, and redefinitions of subcellular components made possible by electron microscopy, those prospecting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-emil-palade/in-the-early-1950s-during-the-near-avalanche-of-discoveries/) [George Emil Palade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-emil-palade/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [“The 1950s witnessed especially rapid expansion of electronic and electrical firms, of tobacco, soft drink, and food-processing companies, and of the chemical, plastics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/the-1950s-witnessed-especially-rapid-expansion-of-electronic-and/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) ## More by Damian Green > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [If we don't like modern Britain, then it is very unlikely that modern Britain will like us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-don-t-like-modern-britain-then-it-is-very-unlikely-that-modern/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [If we dismiss childcare or work-life balance as soft, or Labour issues, then we dismiss the main concerns of millions of people, especially women.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-dismiss-childcare-or-work-life-balance-as-soft-or-labour-issues/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Without the U.K. contribution to policing and anti-terrorism, the whole of Europe would be less safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/without-the-u-k-contribution-to-policing-and-anti-terrorism-the-whole/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [There are certain practices that may be historically acceptable to some people but that have no place in our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/there-are-certain-practices-that-may-be-historically-acceptable-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [The Conservatives must never give the impression we exclude any group of British citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/the-conservatives-must-never-give-the-impression-we-exclude-any-group/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Neither Left nor Right has a monopoly of virtue when it comes to smearing opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/neither-left-nor-right-has-a-monopoly-of-virtue-when-it-comes-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Abolishing university tuition fees and getting rid of unnecessary speed cameras are ideas that can be grasped instantly, and grab the attention of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/abolishing-university-tuition-fees-and-getting-rid-of-unnecessary/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Having ground my teeth at educational theorists who say Shakespeare is irrelevant to inner-city children, I was overjoyed to be there when a class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/having-ground-my-teeth-at-educational-theorists-who-say-shakespeare/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [The generosity of spirit that is usually shown by advanced democracies disappears when the public feel two things: that their government is not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/the-generosity-of-spirit-that-is-usually-shown-by-advanced/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [From online local care portals to greater use of personal budgets we need wholesale change if we are to move the social care system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/from-online-local-care-portals-to-greater-use-of-personal-budgets-we/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Around the world, including in the U.K., a version of Right-wing politics is growing that is based on dividing societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/around-the-world-including-in-the-u-k-a-version-of-right-wing/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, there has been suffering and hardship on both sides of the generational divide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/throughout-the-coronavirus-pandemic-there-has-been-suffering-and/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [I think there should be a major cut in the power of government to interfere in the day-to-day running of our schools. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/i-think-there-should-be-a-major-cut-in-the-power-of-government-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) [Explore all 105 Damian Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) ## More 1950s quotes > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“The 1950s witnessed especially rapid expansion of electronic and electrical firms, of tobacco, soft drink, and food-processing companies, and of the chemical, plastics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/the-1950s-witnessed-especially-rapid-expansion-of-electronic-and/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [In the early 1950s, during the near avalanche of discoveries, rediscoveries, and redefinitions of subcellular components made possible by electron microscopy, those prospecting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-emil-palade/in-the-early-1950s-during-the-near-avalanche-of-discoveries/) [George Emil Palade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-emil-palade/) > [What we're most aware of in 'Eight-Legged Freaks' is how similar it is to other movies, a recombinant mutated species itself, the product of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/what-we-re-most-aware-of-in-eight-legged-freaks-is-how-similar-it-is/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [I am a product of the 1950s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-jo-rupp/i-am-a-product-of-the-1950s/) [Debra Jo Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-jo-rupp/) > [We had a very upwardly mobile economy, and that peaked around the 1950s when the typical middle-class American family consisted of a father with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/we-had-a-very-upwardly-mobile-economy-and-that-peaked-around-the/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [“Nixon had sought the treatment of a psychiatrist throughout the 1950s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colapietro-roger-stone/nixon-had-sought-the-treatment-of-a-psychiatrist-throughout-the-1950s/) [Mike Colapietro Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colapietro-roger-stone/) > [“Disneyland was one perfect answer. It provided, an almost sacred space where it is permissible and safe to let one's guard down, take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-le-mon/disneyland-was-one-perfect-answer-it-provided-an-almost-sacred-space/) [Leslie Le Mon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-le-mon/) > [“When they reached their ship, Ed gazed out at the bay. It was black. The sky was black, but the bay was even blacker.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-zlotchew/when-they-reached-their-ship-ed-gazed-out-at-the-bay-it-was-black-the/) [Clark Zlotchew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-zlotchew/) > [“In the 1950s at least less was expected of women. Now we're supposed to build a career, build a home, be the supermum that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/in-the-1950s-at-least-less-was-expected-of-women-now-we-re-supposed/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [The whole 1950s notion was find the right girl, get married, move to the suburbs and then hang out with the guys while she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/the-whole-1950s-notion-was-find-the-right-girl-get-married-move-to/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I started with very tonal 19th-century music because I wanted to be a violinist as a child. So this was my first music, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/i-started-with-very-tonal-19th-century-music-because-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [“The country is like a great sponge—it finally absorbs you. Eventually you will get malaria or you will get dysentery and whatever you do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/the-country-is-like-a-great-sponge-it-finally-absorbs-you-eventually/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [“Don't make a career out of underestimating me." — Claire de Haven”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/don-t-make-a-career-out-of-underestimating-me-claire-de-haven/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) [Browse all 123 1950s quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zz-1950s-413/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Old-fashioned types used to mutter about whether someone was officer-class material. 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