“The Top Is Greedy and Mean, and They Will Always Find a Way to Take Care of Themselves.”. Source
This powerful statement captures a deep-seated cynicism about power and wealth. Many attribute these words to the former British Labour Party leader, Michael Foot. However, the origin of this famous quote is far more complex than a simple attribution. It involves an American literary giant, interpretive journalism, and the subtle ways media shapes historical memory. The story reveals how a writer’s perception can become more famous than a politician’s actual words.
Indeed, the journey of this quote begins not in a fiery speech, but in the pages of a newspaper. It demonstrates the fascinating line between reporting and storytelling. Foot, (Isaac) Michael (Mackintosh) (1913–2010), politician
. Michael Foot – Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The American Observer: Norman Mailer Reports on British Politics
In 1983, the acclaimed American author Norman Mailer traveled to Britain. He was on assignment to cover the general election for The Mail on Sunday. His focus was the campaign of Michael Foot, the passionate but ultimately unsuccessful leader of the Labour Party. Mailer was not just a reporter; he was a novelist known for his distinctive, interpretive style. He aimed to capture the essence of his subjects, not just their literal statements.
On May 29, 1983, Mailer published his observations in an article titled “With Foot on the Edge of Peril.” Within this piece, he did not transcribe a speech. Instead, he synthesized his understanding of Foot’s political philosophy. Mailer constructed a passage that he believed encapsulated Foot’s worldview. He wrote about a fundamental duty to care for the sick, the poor, and the old. This duty, in Mailer’s interpretation of Foot, superseded the quest for economic efficiency or profitable progress.
The Birth of a Famous Line
The most potent part of Norman Mailer – The Norman Mailer Society‘s synthesis was his take on the wealthy. He argued that society need not worry about incentivizing the rich. Why? Because, as he phrased it, the wealthy possess an inherent drive to protect their own interests. This is where the famous line appeared. Mailer wrote it as part of a larger thought he attributed to Foot’s ideology. The words were Mailer’s literary creation, designed to express the spirit of Foot’s political stance as he perceived it. It was a powerful summary, but it was not a direct quote.
From Interpretation to Misattribution
A few days later, the narrative began to shift. The transformation from interpretation to direct quotation happened through media reproduction. The Daily Mirror, on June 1, 1983, reprinted Mailer’s passage. Crucially, the newspaper introduced the text with the phrase, “He said:”. This small addition fundamentally changed its nature. Mailer’s interpretation was now presented as Foot’s verbatim speech. The paper also made a minor grammatical change, shifting “the top is greedy” to “the top are greedy.”
Other publications handled it with more nuance. For example, The New Statesman acknowledged Mailer’s role. The magazine noted that the passage was what Mailer “perceived Foot to be saying.” This phrasing preserved the ambiguity between a direct quote and a summary. However, the more dramatic and direct attribution from the Mirror gained more traction. It was simpler and more powerful. Consequently, the idea that Foot himself had spoken these exact words began to solidify in the public consciousness.
. Michael Foot Papers – Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin
How Michael Foot Responded
Michael Foot himself was aware of the growing misattribution. He addressed the matter in his 1984 book, Another Heart and Other Pulses: The Alternative to the Thatcher Society. Foot acknowledged that newspapers were treating Mailer’s passage as his own words. His reaction was not one of anger, but rather of wry amusement and appreciation. He recognized the power of the prose Mailer had crafted.
Foot even commented on how others described the passage as “cogent,” which he noted means convincing and powerful. With a touch of humor, he suggested that Mailer might find “a new career as a speech-writer.” This response shows that Foot understood the situation perfectly. He recognized that Mailer had captured the spirit of his message so effectively that the words took on a life of their own. He did not aggressively correct the record but instead gently pointed out the literary skill behind the misattributed quote.
The Quote’s Lasting Legacy
Decades after the 1983 election, the misattribution continued to persist. Authoritative sources repeated it as fact, cementing its place in history. In 2001, The Observer ran an article about Foot and presented the passage as his direct speech. The most significant example of this endurance came much later. In its 2010 obituary for Michael Foot, The New York Times attributed the entire passage directly to him. Source
This case study illustrates a profound truth about media and memory. It shows how journalistic interpretation, when repeated by credible institutions, can transform into accepted historical fact. Mailer’s literary interpretation of a political ideology was so resonant that it overshadowed reality. The quote itself endures because it speaks to a timeless tension between social classes and the distribution of power. It remains a powerful expression of a political viewpoint, even if the man credited with saying it never actually did. Michael Foot obituary – The New York Times