[HPforGrownups] The Men from the Ministry

[T.M. Sommers]

No: HPFGUIDX 75230

Dave Hardenbrook wrote:
> Sunday, July 20, 2003, 6:35:09 PM, T.M. Sommers wrote:
> 
> TMS> That implies the existence of a 
> TMS> Permanent Under Secretary of State for Magic.  We have not yet 
> TMS> met this person, but I hope we do, for I would love to see the 
> TMS> wizarding equivalent of Sir Humphrey Appleby.
> 
> So would I :) -- I *can* see Humphrey saying to Percy, "Well done
> Percy, you'll be a moral vacuum yet!"

That's good.  I fear, though, that Percy has gone beyond vacuumhood.

> But just for kicks, compare these two statements:
> 
> "There is no good and evil -- There is only power, and those too weak
> to seek it."    -- Lord Voldemort
> 
> "As far as I'm concerned, Minister, there is no difference between
> means and ends."    -- Sir Humphrey Appleby
> 
> (Do I detect kindred ideologies??)
> 

I can well imagine Humpy saying, "There is no good and evil. 
There is only power, and those unfit to wield it, such as 
football hooligans, Fleet Street editors, back-bench MPs, and 
Cabinet ministers."

But I can't see Voldemort as a civil servant.