--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The nanny seemed to be extinct until…" description: "\"The nanny seemed to be extinct until 1975, when, like the coelacanth, she suddenly and unexpectedly reappeared in the shape of Margaret Thatcher.\" — Si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg" --- # The nanny seemed to be extinct until 1975, when, like the… ![“The nanny seemed to be extinct until 1975, when, like the coelacanth, she suddenly and unexpectedly reappeared in the shape of Margaret Thatcher.” quote by Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg) > “The nanny seemed to be extinct until 1975, when, like the coelacanth, she suddenly and unexpectedly reappeared in the shape of Margaret Thatcher.” [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author likens the unexpected rise of Margaret Thatcher to a living fossil reappearing, highlighting her rarity and impact. **In simple terms:** Thatcher's return was surprising and rare. Key Takeaway Recognize unexpected leaders as unique phenomena. Themes politics history leadership Mood wry analytical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - political commentary - historical reflection - media analysis Key Concepts cultural analysis unexpected change Questions to Reflect On - What makes a leader feel like a “living fossil”? - How do rare events reshape political landscapes? A Different Perspective Comparing a person to a fossil may oversimplify complex influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coelacanth Suddenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coelacanth-suddenly-5824065/) [Extinct 1975](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extinct-1975-5824066/) [Like Coelacanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-coelacanth-5824067/) [Margaret thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/margaret-thatcher/) [Nannies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nannies/) [Nanny Extinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nanny-extinct-5824064/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thatcher/) ## Related quotes > [Watching the Commons tribute to Margaret Thatcher was like being suffocated inside a gigantic sticky toffee pudding, but one with nasty bogeys planted inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/watching-the-commons-tribute-to-margaret-thatcher-was-like-being/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Remember how Margaret Thatcher came to believe that abroad was more important than at home? Didn't do her much good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/remember-how-margaret-thatcher-came-to-believe-that-abroad-was-more/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [When I'm a mum, I'm not going to be one of those mums who has nannies. Actually, I might have nannies - never say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/when-i-m-a-mum-i-m-not-going-to-be-one-of-those-mums-who-has-nannies/) [Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/) > [Oh, I had two nannies. God, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-michael-of-kent/oh-i-had-two-nannies-god-yes/) [Princess Michael of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-michael-of-kent/) > [People have nannies and big cars, and they want to go to Maui for Christmas. When there are those kind of stakes involved, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sherman-palladino/people-have-nannies-and-big-cars-and-they-want-to-go-to-maui-for/) [Amy Sherman-Palladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sherman-palladino/) > [Now, now," said Vale in a sickeningly sweet voice reminiscent of a nursery nanny. "I already gave him a drubbing for courting Emmie."Reynaud raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/now-now-said-vale-in-a-sickeningly-sweet-voice-reminiscent-of-a/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [Not an ugly color, Nanny thought. Just not a human color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/not-an-ugly-color-nanny-thought-just-not-a-human-color/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I want a certain thing for my children. I just want to be in their life. I don't want nannies raising my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-barker/i-want-a-certain-thing-for-my-children-i-just-want-to-be-in-their/) [Travis Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-barker/) > [I have two Filipino nannies who have British passport and not me. I don't need British passport. When you were running around in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-al-fayed/i-have-two-filipino-nannies-who-have-british-passport-and-not-me-i/) [Mohamed Al-Fayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-al-fayed/) > [I think Franklin Roosevelt was a lousy president. What he did- which is to impose this great nanny state on America- was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-crane/i-think-franklin-roosevelt-was-a-lousy-president-what-he-did-which-is/) [Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-crane/) > [I think that every show on television has its place. I think Married With Children or, I don't know, The Nanny... some people want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/i-think-that-every-show-on-television-has-its-place-i-think-married/) [Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/) > [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny ... and everything in between. But he was one of a kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-and-everything/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It wasn't that Nanny Ogg sang badly. It was just that she could hit notes which, when amplified by a tin bath half full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-wasn-t-that-nanny-ogg-sang-badly-it-was-just-that-she-could-hit/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I didn't want my daughter brought up by nannies, and I didn't want her to feel I wasn't around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latanya-richardson/i-didn-t-want-my-daughter-brought-up-by-nannies-and-i-didn-t-want-her/) [LaTanya Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latanya-richardson/) > [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-a-president-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Simon Hoggart > [If you read the 'Daily Mail,' you would imagine that the British middle classes lead lives of unremitting misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/if-you-read-the-daily-mail-you-would-imagine-that-the-british-middle/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [What puzzles me is the way that some of the smaller, unknown chateaux imagine that because Chinese millionaires pay ludicrous sums for the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/what-puzzles-me-is-the-way-that-some-of-the-smaller-unknown-chateaux/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [In Washington, success is just a training course for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/in-washington-success-is-just-a-training-course-for-failure/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I'm often amazed at the way politicians, who spend hours poring over opinion poll results in a desperate attempt to discover what the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-m-often-amazed-at-the-way-politicians-who-spend-hours-poring-over/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [America loves the representation of its heroes to be not just larger than life, but stupendously, awesomely bigger than anything else. If blue whales…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/america-loves-the-representation-of-its-heroes-to-be-not-just-larger/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I know of no wars started by anyone to impose lack of religion on someone else. We have lethal Sunni v Shia, Catholic against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-know-of-no-wars-started-by-anyone-to-impose-lack-of-religion-on/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Poor Harper Seven Beckham, having to live with that name all her life. It's the Boy Named Sue syndrome; at the very least it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/poor-harper-seven-beckham-having-to-live-with-that-name-all-her-life/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Peter Mandelson is the only man I know who can skulk in broad daylight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/peter-mandelson-is-the-only-man-i-know-who-can-skulk-in-broad-daylight/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [It's sad that the BBC is toning down Dennis the Menace for a cartoon series. He is losing his weapons, catapult and peashooter, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/it-s-sad-that-the-bbc-is-toning-down-dennis-the-menace-for-a-cartoon/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [While it is entirely untrue that Canadians lack a sense of humour, the funniest ones tend to head south: Dan Aykroyd, Jim Carrey, Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/while-it-is-entirely-untrue-that-canadians-lack-a-sense-of-humour-the/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Reagan is the only man to take the presidency as a part-time job, a means of filling up the otherwise empty hours of retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/reagan-is-the-only-man-to-take-the-presidency-as-a-part-time-job-a/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I think Tony Blair has to come down on one side or the other. You can't be a half-hearted supporter of the possible attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-think-tony-blair-has-to-come-down-on-one-side-or-the-other-you-can/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Reagan was a flesh and blood version of any other mute national emblem, say the Statue of Liberty. Everyone knows what she represents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/reagan-was-a-flesh-and-blood-version-of-any-other-mute-national/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Every time humanists try to get a slot on 'Thought For the Day' on Radio 4, they are told it's reserved for 'the faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/every-time-humanists-try-to-get-a-slot-on-thought-for-the-day-on/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Americans are fascinated by their own love of shopping. This does not make them unique. It's just that they have more to buy than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/americans-are-fascinated-by-their-own-love-of-shopping-this-does-not/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) [Explore all 63 Simon Hoggart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) ## More Margaret thatcher quotes > [In a way, the debate about Margaret Thatcher in Britain has just gotten fossilized in this notion that she is either this she-devil who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllida-lloyd/in-a-way-the-debate-about-margaret-thatcher-in-britain-has-just/) [Phyllida Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllida-lloyd/) > [ \[Margaret Thatcher\] is a woman who, when she wrote her entry for "Who's Who," didn't include her mother. Now whether that was corrected in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/margaret-thatcher-is-a-woman-who-when-she-wrote-her-entry-for-who-s/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I often compare Margaret Thatcher with Florence Nightingale. She stalks through the wards of our hospitals as a lady with a lamp. Unfortunately, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-healey/i-often-compare-margaret-thatcher-with-florence-nightingale-she/) [Denis Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-healey/) > [“The Prime Minister says that she has given the French President a piece of her mind – this is not a gift I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-healey/the-prime-minister-says-that-she-has-given-the-french-president-a/) [Denis Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-healey/) > [They didn't even like Margaret Thatcher but at least there was Margaret Thatcher. There have been women, you know, Sonia Gandhi for heaven's sakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-clinton/they-didn-t-even-like-margaret-thatcher-but-at-least-there-was/) [Kate Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-clinton/) > [If there is a better singer in England than Craig David, then I am Margaret Thatcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/if-there-is-a-better-singer-in-england-than-craig-david-then-i-am/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [“What we have witnessed in our own time is the death of universities as centres of critique. Since Margaret Thatcher, the role of academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/what-we-have-witnessed-in-our-own-time-is-the-death-of-universities/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [ I think psychologically \[Margaret Thatcher\] is really worth studying. I am reading Charles Moore's biography of her, and he has gotten us right there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-think-psychologically-margaret-thatcher-is-really-worth-studying-i/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I am not running as Son of Margaret Thatcher. I have my own priorities and my own programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-am-not-running-as-son-of-margaret-thatcher-i-have-my-own-priorities/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Margaret Thatcher had more impact on the world than any woman ruler since Catherine the Great of Russia. Not only did she turn around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/margaret-thatcher-had-more-impact-on-the-world-than-any-woman-ruler/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [She ( Margaret Thatcher )is democratic enough to talk down to anyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mitchell/she-margaret-thatcher-is-democratic-enough-to-talk-down-to-anyone/) [Austin Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mitchell/) > [Britain's done a lot of changing in the past 50 years. The decline of manufacturing and heavy industry under Margaret Thatcher ripped the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sarkar/britain-s-done-a-lot-of-changing-in-the-past-50-years-the-decline-of/) [Ash Sarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sarkar/) > [Her iron will won international respect. Her unabashed femininity gained women's. Margaret Thatcher was a lady's lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-burfitt-dons/her-iron-will-won-international-respect-her-unabashed-femininity/) [Louise Burfitt-Dons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-burfitt-dons/) > [Margaret Thatcher was a great leader for her nation at a pivotal and a perilous time. So, I find the comparison flattering, but that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/margaret-thatcher-was-a-great-leader-for-her-nation-at-a-pivotal-and/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [Of course Margaret Thatcher was a remarkable and strong-willed figure but she was also a pragmatist, just as ready to upset her right wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/of-course-margaret-thatcher-was-a-remarkable-and-strong-willed-figure/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) [Browse all 152 Margaret thatcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/margaret-thatcher/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The nanny seemed to be extinct until 1975, when, like the coelacanth, she suddenly and unexpectedly reappeared in the shape of Margaret Thatcher.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Hoggart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-1975-when-like-the-coelacanth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Margaret thatcher" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-1975-when-like-the-coelacanth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/simon-hoggart-10883_margaret-thatcher_the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-197_747831.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The nanny seemed to be extinct until 1975, when, like the coelacanth, she suddenly and unexpectedly…” — Simon Hoggart", "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": "Simon Hoggart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The nanny seemed to be extinct...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-1975-when-like-the-coelacanth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/the-nanny-seemed-to-be-extinct-until-1975-when-like-the-coelacanth/#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 } } ] } ```