Alan Clark, diary entry (29 January 1988), quoted in Alan Clark, Diaries: In Power, 1983–1992 (2001), p. 198
“
His is a split personality. A deux he is delightful; clever, funny, observant, drily cynical. But get him anywhere near ‘display mode’, particularly if there are officials around, and he might as well have a corncob up his arse. Pompous, trite, high-sounding, cautiously guarded.
— Alan Clark on Douglas Hurd
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "His is a split personality. A deux he is delightful; clever, funny, observant, drily cynical. But get him anywhere near ‘display mode’, particularly if there are officials around, and he might as well have a corncob up his arse. Pompous, trite, high-sounding, cautiously guarded." in the context of "Alan Clark, diary entry (29 January 1988), quoted in Alan Clark, Diaries: In Power, 1983–1992 (2001), p. 198" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Douglas Hurd" (Quotes about Hurd)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Alan Clark
Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark (April 13, 1928 – September 5, 1999) was a British Conservative politician, historian and diarist. The son of art historian Kenneth Clark, he read modern history at Oxford and qualified as a Barrister, but never practiced. His book "The Donkeys" (1961) argued that British troops were poorly led in the First World War. Clark became Conservative Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton in 1974, and served in the government of Margaret Thatcher. After standing down from Parliament in 1992, his diaries (covering his ministerial career) were published the following year and became an instant classic for their combination of political intrigue, high living, and Clark's many sexual exploits with women. He was elected to Parliament again in 1997.
About Alan Clark
Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark (April 13, 1928 – September 5, 1999) was a British Conservative politician, historian and diarist. The son of art historian Kenneth Clark, he read modern history at Oxford and qualified as a Barrister, but never practiced. His book "The Donkeys" (1961) argued that British troops were poorly led in the First World War. Clark became Conservative Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton in 1974, and served in the government of Margaret Thatcher. After standing down from Parliament in 1992, his diaries (covering his ministerial career) were published the following year and became an instant classic for their combination of political intrigue, high living, and Clark's many sexual exploits with women. He was elected to Parliament again in 1997.
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