--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone now claims to be a moderniser…" description: "\"Everyone now claims to be a moderniser and it's obvious, really. I mean, no one now says 'We need to go backwards... to the days of Lord Salisbury'.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/francis-maude-25435_backwards_everyone-now-claims-to-be-a-moderniser-a_1106245.jpg" --- # Everyone now claims to be a moderniser and it's obvious… ![“Everyone now claims to be a moderniser and it's obvious, really. I mean, no one now says 'We need to go backwards... to the days of Lord Salisbury'.” quote by Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/francis-maude-25435_backwards_everyone-now-claims-to-be-a-moderniser-a_1106245.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/francis-maude-25435_backwards_everyone-now-claims-to-be-a-moderniser-a_1106245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/francis-maude-25435_backwards_everyone-now-claims-to-be-a-moderniser-a_1106245.jpg) > “Everyone now claims to be a moderniser and it's obvious, really. I mean, no one now says 'We need to go backwards... to the days of Lord Salisbury'.” [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often label themselves as progressive while ignoring past lessons, leading to superficial reforms. **In simple terms:** People claim modernity but ignore history. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about progress. Themes progress history politics critical thinking Mood skeptical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - political debate - media commentary - public policy development Key Concepts modernism nostalgia policy making Questions to Reflect On - What historical examples are being overlooked? - How can we balance innovation with tradition? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on novelty can ignore valuable historical insights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) ## Related quotes > [Lord Salisbury constitutes himself the spokesman of a class, of the class to which he himself belongs, who'toil not neither do they spin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/lord-salisbury-constitutes-himself-the-spokesman-of-a-class-of-the/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [Lord Salisbury and myself have brought you back peace--but a peace I hope with honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/lord-salisbury-and-myself-have-brought-you-back-peace-but-a-peace-i/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Only those of us, I think, who were born under Queen Victoria know what it feels like to assume, without questioning, that England is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/only-those-of-us-i-think-who-were-born-under-queen-victoria-know-what/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [You know what, if you play 'She Looks So Perfect' backwards... you just listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/you-know-what-if-you-play-she-looks-so-perfect-backwards-you-just/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [We have different expectations for different groups of people. We tend to modulate the degree with which we're forgiving or punitive depending on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/we-have-different-expectations-for-different-groups-of-people-we-tend/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Only a fool walks into the future backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/only-a-fool-walks-into-the-future-backwards/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [I took a little break - I was coming back to work and the last thing I was going to do was take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-took-a-little-break-i-was-coming-back-to-work-and-the-last-thing-i/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Can anyone be so foolish as to believe that there are men whose feet are higher than their heads, or places where things may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lactantius/can-anyone-be-so-foolish-as-to-believe-that-there-are-men-whose-feet/) [Lactantius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lactantius/) > [Now, success is not the result of making money; making money is the result of success - and success is in direct proportion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/now-success-is-not-the-result-of-making-money-making-money-is-the/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [In the spiritual life, he who does not advance goes backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/in-the-spiritual-life-he-who-does-not-advance-goes-backwards/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) > [Why don't you just imagine it never happened..??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/effy-stonem/why-don-t-you-just-imagine-it-never-happened/) [Effy Stonem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/effy-stonem/) > [A historian is not always a prophet facing backwards, but a journalist is always someone who afterwards knew everything beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/a-historian-is-not-always-a-prophet-facing-backwards-but-a-journalist/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I wear T-shirts and backwards hats and buy my shoes at Payless!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-wear-t-shirts-and-backwards-hats-and-buy-my-shoes-at-payless/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) ## More by Francis Maude > [It is simply the view, and a view I think shared by most members of the party, that it is very difficult to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/it-is-simply-the-view-and-a-view-i-think-shared-by-most-members-of/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [For the most part our grassroots members are serious, nice, tolerant people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/for-the-most-part-our-grassroots-members-are-serious-nice-tolerant/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [We should be the natural home for the millions of Britons of immigrant origin. But we're not. Because too often we've sounded like people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/we-should-be-the-natural-home-for-the-millions-of-britons-of/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [Our party has known great, great days. But we have no God-given right to survive, let alone to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/our-party-has-known-great-great-days-but-we-have-no-god-given-right/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [We need to show that we know and understand and can reflect today's Britain. Today we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/we-need-to-show-that-we-know-and-understand-and-can-reflect-today-s/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [The problem we have is not Labour, in however it is configured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/the-problem-we-have-is-not-labour-in-however-it-is-configured/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [We said in our 21st Century Party paper there are 61 mosaic groups, which the market research people use as different socio-economic categories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/we-said-in-our-21st-century-party-paper-there-are-61-mosaic-groups/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [David Cameron's message of change, optimism and hope is in tune with what Britain wants today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/david-cameron-s-message-of-change-optimism-and-hope-is-in-tune-with/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [We should be the natural home for younger voters. But today we're not. Because too often we sound like people who just don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/we-should-be-the-natural-home-for-younger-voters-but-today-we-re-not/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [If we do what we think is right, not try to point-score, people will begin to trust us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/if-we-do-what-we-think-is-right-not-try-to-point-score-people-will/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [Our party believes in diversity, not uniformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/our-party-believes-in-diversity-not-uniformity/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [So our problem is not Labour, it is us, is making us attractive enough to gain disillusioned Labour support and to compete effectively with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/so-our-problem-is-not-labour-it-is-us-is-making-us-attractive-enough/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [Our members are very much maligned. Obviously the average age is 60 something, but they all have children and grandchildren, they understand what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/our-members-are-very-much-maligned-obviously-the-average-age-is-60/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [The party at its best has always been a modern party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/the-party-at-its-best-has-always-been-a-modern-party/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [But if we can work with people in other parties to get the right answer for the country we'll do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/but-if-we-can-work-with-people-in-other-parties-to-get-the-right/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) [Explore all 23 Francis Maude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) ## More Backwards quotes > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [I wear T-shirts and backwards hats and buy my shoes at Payless!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-wear-t-shirts-and-backwards-hats-and-buy-my-shoes-at-payless/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [A historian is not always a prophet facing backwards, but a journalist is always someone who afterwards knew everything beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/a-historian-is-not-always-a-prophet-facing-backwards-but-a-journalist/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Why don't you just imagine it never happened..??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/effy-stonem/why-don-t-you-just-imagine-it-never-happened/) [Effy Stonem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/effy-stonem/) > [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) > [In the spiritual life, he who does not advance goes backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/in-the-spiritual-life-he-who-does-not-advance-goes-backwards/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Now, success is not the result of making money; making money is the result of success - and success is in direct proportion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/now-success-is-not-the-result-of-making-money-making-money-is-the/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Can anyone be so foolish as to believe that there are men whose feet are higher than their heads, or places where things may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lactantius/can-anyone-be-so-foolish-as-to-believe-that-there-are-men-whose-feet/) [Lactantius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lactantius/) > [I took a little break - I was coming back to work and the last thing I was going to do was take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-took-a-little-break-i-was-coming-back-to-work-and-the-last-thing-i/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Only a fool walks into the future backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/only-a-fool-walks-into-the-future-backwards/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [We have different expectations for different groups of people. We tend to modulate the degree with which we're forgiving or punitive depending on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/we-have-different-expectations-for-different-groups-of-people-we-tend/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [You know what, if you play 'She Looks So Perfect' backwards... you just listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/you-know-what-if-you-play-she-looks-so-perfect-backwards-you-just/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/nursing-is-a-progressive-art-such-that-to-stand-still-is-to-go/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“Just like backing out of the driveway… If the driveway was ten miles long, full of rocks and pits, with lethal radiation hovering above,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-thorman/just-like-backing-out-of-the-driveway-if-the-driveway-was-ten-miles/) [Daniel Thorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-thorman/) > [We're not competitor obsessed, we're customer obsessed. We start with the customer and we work backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/we-re-not-competitor-obsessed-we-re-customer-obsessed-we-start-with/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) Browse all 837 Backwards quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone now claims to be a moderniser and it's obvious, really. 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