Yes Minister Quote
[The President of Buranda plans a speech urging the Scots and Irish to fight against "British colonialism".]
Jim Hacker: Humphrey, do you think it is a good idea to issue a statement?
Sir Humphrey: Well, Minister, in practical terms we have the usual six options:
Hacker: Which should be it?
Sir Humphrey: Well:
Jim Hacker: Humphrey, do you think it is a good idea to issue a statement?
Sir Humphrey: Well, Minister, in practical terms we have the usual six options:
- One: do nothing.
- Two: issue a statement deploring the speech.
- Three: lodge an official protest.
- Four: cut off aid.
- Five: break off diplomatic relations.
- And six: declare war.
Hacker: Which should be it?
Sir Humphrey: Well:
- If we do nothing, that means we implicitly agree with the speech.
- If we issue a statement, we'll just look foolish.
- If we lodge a protest, it'll be ignored.
- We can't cut off aid, because we don't give them any.
- If we break off diplomatic relations, then we can't negotiate the oil rig contracts.
- And if we declare war, it might just look as though we were over-reacting!
TV Show: Yes, Minister
