Not altogether wicked, merely unteachable...

Two weeks ago I quoted from George Orwell's 1941 essay, Notes on Nationalism.  He skewered so much of Nationalist attitude and stupidity, he got them so bang to rights, that it could have been written yesterday.

I don't know if it's coincidence, but this came up a few days ago. Again it's from 70 years ago. This time the Tories are his target and, in light of the Budget and the current Downing Street Dinners scandal, it rings so so so true.


From The Lion and the Unicorn , 1941

"It is important not to misunderstand their motives, or one cannot predict their actions. What is to be expected of them is not treachery, or physical cowardice, but stupidity, unconscious sabotage, an infallible instinct for doing the wrong thing. They are not wicked, or not altogether wicked; they are merely unteachable. Only when their money and power are gone will the younger among them begin to grasp what century they are living in."

The bit that hits home is "...They are not wicked, or not altogether wicked; they are merely unteachable...".  

Absolutely true. Bullseye. On the money. Fresh as this morning's dew. It could be lifted without changing a dot or comma and put straight in to the political profiles of the Tory cabinet.

Plus, of course, Clegg and Huhne and other so-called Orange Book so-called Liberal Democrats.

Bingo!