An empty taxi arrived and out of it stepped Attlee.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This quip humorously depicts Attlee as unpretentious by contrasting an empty taxi with grand entrances.
- In plain terms
- Attlee arrived simply without fanfare.
- What can you take from it?
- True leaders do not need grand entrances.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do leaders present themselves?
- Does style matter in politics?
Another view
It relies on a specific anecdote that may lack broader context.
More from Winston Churchill
If you're not a liberal when you're 25, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 35, you have no brain.
Permalink to quote #212 All this contains much that is obviously true, and much that is relevant; unfortunately, what is obviously true is not relevant, and what is relevant is not ob…
Permalink to quote #214 Unknown MP sitting behind Churchill on the back benches during his twilight years, to adjacent colleague, sotto voce: He's not what he used to be. They say he'…
Permalink to quote #211
Related quotes
I wish I could say that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had done himself less than justice. Unfortunately, I can only say that I believe he has done himself ju…
Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher quote #3 'My Lords and peacocks.'
George III of the United KingdomGeorge III of the United Kingdom quote #3 So China's president [Hu Jintao] meets, uh- meets America's president. It's like President 'Who?' meeting President 'Huh?'.
Jay LenoJay Leno quote #4