Remarks after his purchase of The Times (1908), quoted in Frederick Harcourt Kitchin, The London 'Times' Under the Managership of Moberly Bell: An Unofficial Narrative (1925), p. 238
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I shall leave the Editor unrestricted control unless he should—which is quite incredible—fail to warn the British people of the coming German peril. I insist upon that duty being discharged. Apart from Germany the Editor is free to take any line of policy which commends itself to him.
— Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I shall leave the Editor unrestricted control unless he should—which is quite incredible—fail to warn the British people of the coming German peril. I insist upon that duty being discharged. Apart from Germany the Editor is free to take any line of policy which commends itself to him." in the context of "Remarks after his purchase of The Times (1908), quoted in Frederick Harcourt Kitchin, The London 'Times' Under the Managership of Moberly Bell: An Unofficial Narrative (1925), p. 238" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 19, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe
Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe (15 July 1865 – 14 August 1922), was a British newspaper and publishing magnate. As owner of the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror, he was an early developer of popular journalism, and he exercised vast influence over British popular opinion during the Edwardian era. Lord Beaverbrook said he was "the greatest figure who ever strode down Fleet Street." About the beginning of the 20th century there were increasing attempts to develop popular journalism intended for the working class and tending to emphasize sensational topics. Harmsworth was the main innovator.
About Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe
Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe (15 July 1865 – 14 August 1922), was a British newspaper and publishing magnate. As owner of the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror, he was an early developer of popular journalism, and he exercised vast influence over British popular opinion during the Edwardian era. Lord Beaverbrook said he was "the greatest figure who ever strode down Fleet Street." About the beginning of the 20th century there were increasing attempts to develop popular journalism intended for the working class and tending to emphasize sensational topics. Harmsworth was the main innovator.
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