Douglas Hurd
Douglas Hurd
Douglas Richard Hurd, Baron Hurd of Westwell CH CBE PCis a British Conservative politician who served in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major from 1979 to 1995...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth8 March 1930
prime ministers treaties
If Margaret Thatcher had been Prime Minister at the time, there would have been no Treaty of Maastricht.
people arguing ministers
Some people find it difficult to argue with a woman Prime Minister and shrivel up.
gossip silence sin
Silence is regarded as a sort of sin now, and it has to be filled with a lot of gossip and soundbites.
spiritual people kind
People know they are lacking something, they are constantly wanting some kind of spiritual guidance.
favour politician should
We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those signposts of history that point in the direction which they themselves already favour.
past ideas judgement
There are thus great swathes of the past where understanding is more important and reputable than judgement, because the principal actors performed in line with the ideas and values of that time, not of ours.
against becoming extra mixed motives thrown war
Our motives (for war against Iraq) are becoming mixed as extra motives are thrown into the pot.
against benefits east ground middle overthrow president recruiting risk turning weigh
They have to weigh the undoubted benefits of ... (Iraqi President Saddam) Hussein's overthrow against the risk of turning the Middle East into an inexhaustible recruiting ground for anti-Western terrorism.
british bush cabinet envy
I do not envy the British Cabinet or the Bush administration their choice,
believe egypt given greater move others towards
I believe that Egypt in its own way, the Palestinians when they are given a chance, and others will before long move towards greater democracy.
flatter human indeed knowledge themselves whether
Indeed it is a characteristic of most human beings, whether politicians or not, to flatter themselves on their knowledge of history.
divided europe superpower
The tragedy of 9/11 galvanised the American superpower into action, leaving us in Europe divided in its wake.