Conquest, Robert -- “Conquest’s Law”

Dave — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:35:18 +0000

Generally speaking, everybody is reactionary on the subjects he knows about.

Robert Conquest (b. 1917) Anglo-American historian, diplomat, poet
“Conquest’s Law”

Attributed in Kingsley Amis, Memoirs (1991)

Variant: "Everyone is a reactionary about subjects he understands."

Conquest, Robert -- “Conquest’s Second Law”

Dave — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:12:52 +0000

Every organization appears to be headed by secret agents of its opponents.

Robert Conquest (b. 1917) Anglo-American historian, diplomat, poet
“Conquest’s Second Law”

Attributed in Kingsley Amis, Memoirs (1991). Also known as "Conquest's Law of Organizations."

Variants:

"Every organisation behaves as if it is run by secret agents of its opponents."
"The behavior of any organization can best be predicted on the assumption that it is headed by a secret cabal of its enemies."

WIST Quotations

Conquest, Robert -- “Conquest’s Law”

Conquest, Robert -- “Conquest’s Second Law”