Polly Toynbee Quotes

Powerful Polly Toynbee for Daily Growth

About Polly Toynbee

Polly Toynbee, a renowned British journalist and social policy expert, was born on January 17, 1953, in London, England. Raised by her maternal grandparents due to her mother's early death, she developed a keen interest in politics at an early age. Toynbee attended the University of Oxford, where she studied philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). After graduating, she worked for various newspapers, including The Guardian, where she has been a columnist since 1986. Her work for The Guardian has earned her multiple British Press Awards and the Orwell Prize for political writing in 2004. Throughout her career, Toynbee has been deeply involved in social policy debates, advocating for the disadvantaged and marginalized in society. Her first book, "Hard Work: Beneath an Underclass," published in 1987, explored the lives of the working poor in Britain and highlighted the challenges they faced due to unemployment and poverty. In 2003, Toynbee co-authored "The Cost of Inequality" with David Walker. The book argues that economic inequality in the UK has a devastating impact on society as a whole, and it led to the formation of the Equality Trust, a charity focused on reducing income inequality. One of her most significant works is "Unjust Society: How the 5% made the rest of us Miserable," published in 2003, which critiques contemporary British society for its deepening social and economic inequalities. Toynbee's latest book, "Dismayed Majority: Why We Need a New Politics," was published in 2017, exploring the political disillusionment felt by many Britons and offering solutions for a more inclusive and equitable society. Polly Toynbee is not only a prolific writer but also a passionate social reformer who continues to influence public discourse on politics and social policy in the UK.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Politics is not about ideas or ideology; it's about power."

Polly Toynbee's statement suggests that the primary focus of politics is not on intellectual ideas or philosophical ideologies, but rather on the distribution and exercise of power. This implies that political decisions are often driven by the interests and agendas of those who hold power, rather than by a commitment to certain principles or values. In essence, she posits that politics is about exerting influence over others in order to achieve desired outcomes.

"The greatest challenge of our times: creating a new politics that empowers the powerless and rescues the abandoned."

This quote by Polly Toynbee encapsulates a fundamental societal goal: to establish a political system that amplifies the voices and empowers those who are currently marginalized, and to provide support for those who have been left behind or forgotten in our current socio-political landscape. In essence, it calls for a shift towards more equitable, inclusive, and compassionate governance.

"Economic inequality has become a moral issue, one that demands a response rooted in social justice."

This quote emphasizes the importance of addressing economic inequality as a matter of moral and ethical concern, not just an economic or political issue. It suggests that the widening gap between the rich and the poor is unjust, and demands action based on principles of fairness, equality, and social justice. In other words, it's not only about improving the economy, but also about creating a more equitable society where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

"The welfare state has always been under attack from those who see it as a threat to their own power."

The quote suggests that the welfare state, which provides essential services and support for disadvantaged individuals, is often criticized by those with more societal power. This criticism stems from the perceived challenge the welfare state poses to the dominance of these powerful groups. In other words, it's a statement about the political struggle over resources and influence in society, where some may see the welfare state as eroding their control or advantage.

"Democracy is not self-maintaining; it must be nurtured and defended by everyone, all the time."

This quote emphasizes that democracy is a precious yet fragile system that requires constant attention, care, and protection from its citizens to ensure its longevity and vitality. It's a call-to-action for everyone to participate in democratic processes, engage in discussions, hold leaders accountable, and actively work towards preserving the ideals of fairness, equality, and transparency that underpin democracy. In essence, it underscores the need for vigilance and collective effort in upholding and advancing our democratic values.

The strongest predictor of unhappiness is anyone who has had a mental illness in the last 10 years. It is an even stronger predictor of unhappiness than poverty - which also ranks highly.

- Polly Toynbee

Last, Had, Which, Unhappiness

Happiness is a real, objective phenomenon, scientifically verifiable. That means people and whole societies can now be measured over time and compared accurately with one another. Causes and cures for unhappiness can be quantified.

- Polly Toynbee

Over, Measured, Means, Verifiable

But how odd that in this heathen nation of empty pews, where churches' bare, ruined choirs are converted into luxury loft living, a Labour government - yes, a Labour government - is deliberately creating a huge expansion of faith schools.

- Polly Toynbee

Nation, Labour Government, Converted

But the single overwhelming reason why jails are bursting is longer sentences given for more crimes.

- Polly Toynbee

Reason, Single, Given, Bursting

Inequality makes everyone unhappy, the poor most of all, and that is well within the remit of the state. More money gives less extra happiness the richer we get, yet we are addicted to earning and spending more every year.

- Polly Toynbee

Happiness, Year, Poor, Richer

My Lords temporal, today is the day to rise up against the regiment of Lords spiritual and proclaim the values of enlightenment, compassion and common sense.

- Polly Toynbee

Enlightenment, Against, Common Sense

One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. These are not the worried well but those in severe mental pain with conditions crippling enough to prevent them living normal lives.

- Polly Toynbee

Pain, Normal, Six, Crippling

Thresholds of pain, indignity and incapacity are entirely personal.

- Polly Toynbee

Pain, Personal, Indignity, Incapacity

There is all the difference in the world between teaching children about religion and handing them over to be taught by the religious.

- Polly Toynbee

Over, Religious, About, Handing

But instead of standing up for reason, our government is handing education over to the world of faith.

- Polly Toynbee

Reason, Standing, Over, Handing

In the polls, over 80% support the right to die and have done for the last 25 years. Even 80% of practising Catholics and Protestants support it, plus 76% of Church Times readers.

- Polly Toynbee

Die, Over, Last, Practising

Crime is only the worst example, but it is a paradigm for other Labour policy disasters. No one tells the voters that crime is falling: let them stay scared senseless.

- Polly Toynbee

Falling, Other, Paradigm, Scared

It is now possible to quantify people's levels of happiness pretty accurately by asking them, by observation, and by measuring electrical activity in the brain, in degrees from terrible pain to sublime joy.

- Polly Toynbee

Pain, Pretty, Measuring, Levels

Could a government dare to set out with happiness as its goal? Now that there are accepted scientific proofs, it would be easy to audit the progress of national happiness annually, just as we monitor money and GDP.

- Polly Toynbee

Goal, Could, Set, Monitor

The best care on earth cannot prevent us all dying in the end.

- Polly Toynbee

Earth, Dying, Prevent, In The End

Is anyone serious about the politics of happiness? David Cameron dipped a toe in the water, using the word lightly, but denying the hard policies it implies. Labour shies away from it, but should take up the challenge.

- Polly Toynbee

Politics, David Cameron, Implies

My mother begged doctors to end her life. She was beyond the physical ability to swallow enough of the weak morphine pills she had around her. When she knew she was dying I promised to make sure she could go at a time of her choosing, but it was impossible. I couldn't help.

- Polly Toynbee

Impossible, Pills, Had, Physical Ability

Working lives are for the state to influence. Unemployment makes people unhappy. So does instability.

- Polly Toynbee

Unhappy, Lives, Does, Instability

People want the right to die at a time of their own choosing. Too many families have watched helplessly as a relative dies slowly, longing for death.

- Polly Toynbee

Death, Die, Want, Dies

So what really works? Treatments in jail do some good, but it's mostly too late: finding a family and a job or just growing older make most prisoners eventually give up crime.

- Polly Toynbee

Too Late, Some, Mostly, Prisoners

This is indeed a clash of civilisations, not between Islam and Christendom but between reason and superstition.

- Polly Toynbee

Reason, Superstition, Islam, Christendom

How do you make any sense of history, art or literature without knowing the stories and iconography of your own culture and all the world's main religions?

- Polly Toynbee

Art, Own, Stories, Religions

Openness about death has led to greater care about all aspects of dying.

- Polly Toynbee

Death, Dying, About, Openness

Most people come to fear not death itself, but the many terrible ways of dying.

- Polly Toynbee

Most, Ways, Itself, Dying

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