--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Had they [the Tories] been in the…" description: "\"Had they [the Tories] been in the wilderness they would have complained of the Ten Commandments. Remark.\" — John Bright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bright-17156_commandments_had-they-the-tories-been-in-the-wilderne_1238759.jpg" --- # Had they \[the Tories\] been in the wilderness they would… ![“Had they [the Tories] been in the wilderness they would have complained of the Ten Commandments. Remark.” quote by John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bright-17156_commandments_had-they-the-tories-been-in-the-wilderne_1238759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bright-17156_commandments_had-they-the-tories-been-in-the-wilderne_1238759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/john-bright-17156_commandments_had-they-the-tories-been-in-the-wilderne_1238759.jpg) > “Had they \[the Tories\] been in the wilderness they would have complained of the Ten Commandments. Remark.” [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He mocks the Tories, claiming they'd find fault with even the Ten Commandments if isolated. **In simple terms:** Tories would complain about anything, even moral law. Key Takeaway Expect criticism from opposition. Themes politics religion criticism Mood skeptical ironic Type political satirical When to use this quote - parliamentary debate - public discourse - media commentary Key Concepts satire political commentary Questions to Reflect On - Do critics always find fault? - Is satire effective for political critique? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine moral concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Complaints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaints/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Ten commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-commandments/) [Tories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tories/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/) ## Related quotes > [If the Tories and Lib Dems fought together, they'd keep their ministerial offices and limousines, and continue to do the right things for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/if-the-tories-and-lib-dems-fought-together-they-d-keep-their/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [“This is 1955, for heaven’s sake. Not the Middle Ages! Of course, it doesn’t help having the bloody Tories still in power but you’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/this-is-1955-for-heaven-s-sake-not-the-middle-ages-of-course-it-doesn/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [I think the Tories are doing - and are intent on doing - damage to things I hold dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-think-the-tories-are-doing-and-are-intent-on-doing-damage-to-things/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [As someone who won both a Council seat and a parliamentary seat from the Tories, I know better than most how much well-resourced campaigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/as-someone-who-won-both-a-council-seat-and-a-parliamentary-seat-from/) [Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/) > [They say that the older you get, the more conservative you become: perhaps that's the reason there are no Tories in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/they-say-that-the-older-you-get-the-more-conservative-you-become/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [I've never done any cross-party stuff. I've no interest in sitting down discussing pensions or whatever with Tories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/i-ve-never-done-any-cross-party-stuff-i-ve-no-interest-in-sitting/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [My dad was preparing me for a life in Knowsley and Huyton, one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. A Labour heartland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-barton/my-dad-was-preparing-me-for-a-life-in-knowsley-and-huyton-one-of-the/) [Joey Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-barton/) > [I've been called treacherous, stupid, venal, lazy ..and that's only by the Tories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mackay/i-ve-been-called-treacherous-stupid-venal-lazy-and-that-s-only-by-the/) [Peter MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mackay/) > [Conservative Party membership has almost halved since David Cameron become leader. The truth is the Tories are financially reliant on, and as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-mccluskey/conservative-party-membership-has-almost-halved-since-david-cameron/) Len McCluskey > [“We're not in prison, we're not junkies and we're not Young Tories...it's no small achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/we-re-not-in-prison-we-re-not-junkies-and-we-re-not-young-tories-it-s/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [When I fought the Tories over climate change and won, more than trebling renewable power with a new subsidy policy combining state intervention with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/when-i-fought-the-tories-over-climate-change-and-won-more-than/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [The Tories claim that they have changed. Their stance on foxhunting makes it absolutely clear that they haven't. They know the public doesn't agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/the-tories-claim-that-they-have-changed-their-stance-on-foxhunting/) [Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/) > [I've instinctively hated the Tories since birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-ve-instinctively-hated-the-tories-since-birth/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [I wanted us to go to the Tories when we were strong...not in misfortune to be made an honest woman of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-wanted-us-to-go-to-the-tories-when-we-were-strong-not-in-misfortune/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The Tories, every election, must have a bogy man. If you haven't got a programme, a bogy man will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-bevan/the-tories-every-election-must-have-a-bogy-man-if-you-haven-t-got-a/) [Aneurin Bevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-bevan/) ## More by John Bright > [“What is a great love of books? It is something like a personal introduction to the great and good men of all past times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/what-is-a-great-love-of-books-it-is-something-like-a-personal/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Well, will anybody deny now that the Government at Washington, as regards its own people, is the strongest government in the world at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/well-will-anybody-deny-now-that-the-government-at-washington-as/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [To have two Legislative Assemblies in the United Kingdom would, in my opinion, be an intolerable mischief; and I think no sensible man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/to-have-two-legislative-assemblies-in-the-united-kingdom-would-in-my/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [ The Aristocratic Institutions of England \[had\] acted much like the Slavery Institutions of America... \[in\] demoralis\[ing\] large classes outside their own special boundaries... \[in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/the-aristocratic-institutions-of-england-had-acted-much-like-the/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Demand the ballot as the undeniable right of every man who is called to the poll, and take special care that the old constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/demand-the-ballot-as-the-undeniable-right-of-every-man-who-is-called/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [This regard for the liberties of Europe, this care at one time for the protestant interest, this excessive love for the balance of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/this-regard-for-the-liberties-of-europe-this-care-at-one-time-for-the/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Training and development: The best development programmes change the way people see themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/training-and-development-the-best-development-programmes-change-the/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [So then because some towns in England are not represented, America is to have no representative at all. They are our children; but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/so-then-because-some-towns-in-england-are-not-represented-america-is/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Be the measure great or small, let it be honest in every part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/be-the-measure-great-or-small-let-it-be-honest-in-every-part/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [As to the Income Tax, my opinion is that the needful revenue would be fairly and most fairly raised if paid by property, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/as-to-the-income-tax-my-opinion-is-that-the-needful-revenue-would-be/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [ This old aristocracy and Church-ridden, and tradition-ridden country will never grow wiser. Whilst we are fighting for supremacy in Europe, the \[United\] States are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/this-old-aristocracy-and-church-ridden-and-tradition-ridden-country/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [If this phrase of the 'balance of power' is to be always an argument for war, the pretext for war will never be wanting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/if-this-phrase-of-the-balance-of-power-is-to-be-always-an-argument/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [The angel of death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/the-angel-of-death-has-been-abroad-throughout-the-land-you-may-almost/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [“I would prefer to have one comfortable room well stocked with books to all you could give me in the way of decoration which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/i-would-prefer-to-have-one-comfortable-room-well-stocked-with-books/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [A year ago I was in the city of Genoa, and I found that it returned seven representatives to the Sardinian Parliament at Turin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/a-year-ago-i-was-in-the-city-of-genoa-and-i-found-that-it-returned/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) [Explore all 38 John Bright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) ## More Commandments quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [“You do not need commandments to tell you what is right and wrong, you need reason. YOU NEED TO THINK. What are the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kassandra-dick/you-do-not-need-commandments-to-tell-you-what-is-right-and-wrong-you/) Kassandra Dick > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In tantra we don't believe in commandments. We believe in the moment and the truth that is applicable for that moment, as best we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-tantra-we-don-t-believe-in-commandments-we-believe-in-the-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [ “the precepts of an absolutely perfect life, since they are the same in each Testament, have pointed out \[to us\] the same God, who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-precepts-of-an-absolutely-perfect-life-since-they-are-the-same-in/) The Church Fathers > [Here is your government at work. 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Fortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-fortner/) [Browse all 726 Commandments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Had they [the Tories] been in the wilderness they would have complained of the Ten Commandments. 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