Margot Asquith
Margot Asquith – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Explore the life, voice, and legacy of Margot Asquith (1864–1945), a witty English author, socialite, diarist, and wife of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. Discover her early years, writings, quotes, and impact.
Introduction
Margot Asquith (born Emma Alice Margaret Tennant) was a prominent English socialite, author, and political hostess whose sharp wit and unguarded commentary made her both admired and controversial in early twentieth-century Britain. As the spouse of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, she occupied a conspicuous public role, but she also produced her own writings — memoirs, diaries, essays — that provide vivid insight into the political and cultural life of her times. Her life speaks to the tensions of gender, power, expression, and influence in an era of dramatic change.
Early Life and Family
Margot Asquith was born Emma Alice Margaret Tennant on 2 February 1864, at The Glen in Peeblesshire, Scotland. twelfth child (or among the youngest) of Sir Charles Tennant, 1st Baronet, a wealthy industrialist and Liberal politician, and his wife Emma Winsloe.
Her upbringing was relatively informal: she and her sister Laura were known to roam the moors, climb roofs, ride horses, and engage in daring exploits as children.
Margot’s sister Laura became a central companion and social figure; the two sisters entered London society together in 1881 as part of the intellectual and social circle known (mockingly by critics) as “The Souls” — a group of elite, literary, and political-minded individuals in late Victorian society.
Her family’s wealth and status gave her access to high society, but Margot also displayed early a strong mind, a taste for reading, and a desire to intervene in social matters.
Youth and Education
Margot’s childhood combined leisure, independence, and self-directed intellectual cultivation. Though she lacked formal university training, her home library and travel exposed her to literature, languages, and political ideas.
Her informal education fostered a keen memory, a capacity for observation, and a facility in writing and conversation.
Entering society in London in 1881, Margot began to cultivate her social voice, reputation, and connections, positioning herself in the intellectual and political salons of the day.
Marriage, Public Life & Writings
Marriage to H. H. Asquith
Margot met Herbert Henry Asquith (later to become Prime Minister) around 1890, when he was a Liberal MP. 10 May 1894.
Because Asquith already had children from his first marriage, Margot faced the role of stepmother under scrutiny; in letters she expressed that she did not aim to supplant the previous mother but to gradually find her place.
In her diaries, Margot admitted she recognized her husband’s strengths but also his reserve in love and emotional subtlety.
Role as Political Hostess and Public Figure
When Herbert Asquith rose through Liberal ranks and became Prime Minister (1908–1916), Margot’s role became high profile.
Margot’s tendency to speak plainly, express criticism (even of political figures including her husband’s colleagues), and her missteps in public—especially during World War I—earned her both admiration and infamy.
During the war, Margot kept diaries and wrote candidly about the pressures, politics, and personalities surrounding the government. Her private writings became valuable historical sources later.
Literary Output & Memoirs
Margot was a prolific author, chiefly of memoirs, diaries, essays, and political observations. Her major works include:
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An Autobiography (Vol. 1, 1920 and further volumes later)
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My Impressions of America (1922)
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Places & Persons (1925)
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Lay Sermons (1927)
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Octavia (1928)
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More Memories (1933)
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More or Less about Myself (1934)
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Off the Record (1943)
Her writings are vivid, opinionated, and often lack deference; she recorded public events, behind-the-scenes politics, and personal reflections with candor.
Her Great War Diaries (1914–1916) have been published posthumously and serve as a window onto wartime political and social dynamics from her unique vantage point.
Her memoirs have been critiqued for exaggerations and omissions, but they remain valued both for style and as contemporary sources.
Historical Context & Influence
Margot’s life spanned the late Victorian era, Edwardian era, World War I, interwar years, and into World War II. She witnessed and chronicled major social, political, and cultural transformations in Britain: the struggle for women’s suffrage, shifting power of the Liberal Party, the pressures of war, social change, and the decline of aristocratic dominance.
Her role, as a politically connected but not electorally powerful woman, illustrates the informal channels of influence available to women of her class in her era. Her diaries and memoirs provide historians with direct observations of leading political figures, decisions, and social mores in a period where formal historical records often overlooked the role of spouses and social hosts.
Though she opposed women’s suffrage (like her husband), Margot remained an outspoken presence, and her writings sometimes weighed on public discourse. Her social presence and forceful personality challenged some norms of expected discretion for political wives.
Her written legacy continues to be referenced in studies of liberal politics, wartime government, elite social networks, and gender in public life.
Personality, Style & Reputation
Margot Asquith was known for wit, candor, and a forceful personality. She did not shy away from saying what she thought, often flouting norms of discretion for women in her position.
She cultivated an image of vivacity, intellectual curiosity, and independence of spirit. Her conversation and writing style often blended aphorisms, clever barbs, and moral reflection.
However, contemporaries often criticized her for lacking restraint, being ostentatious or tactless. Some believed she caused political embarrassment to her husband by exposing rifts and making controversial statements.
She was ambitious in her own right: she saw herself as more than merely a spouse; she believed in influencing policy and public life — though often constrained by gender norms and expectations of her era.
Famous Quotes of Margot Asquith
Margot was known for sharp, memorable sayings. Below are selected quotations attributed to her (some from her memoirs or diaries):
“One can only influence the strong characters in life, not the weak; and it is the height of vanity to suppose that you can make an honest man of anyone.”
“The Almighty is a wonderful handicapper: He will not give us everything.”
“The spirit is an inward flame; a lamp the world blows upon but never puts out.”
“Too much brilliance has its disadvantages, and misplaced wit may raise a laugh, but often beheads a topic of profound interest.”
“Rich men’s houses are seldom beautiful, rarely comfortable, and never original.”
“It is always dangerous to generalize … the American people, while infinitely generous, are a hard and strong race … I am inclined to think they never die.”
“His modesty amounts to deformity.”
“There is nothing more popular in the House of Commons than to blame yourself. ‘I have killed my mother. I will never do it again,’ is certain to raise a cheer.”
These lines reflect her mix of wit, cynicism, moral reflection, and social observation.
Lessons from Margot Asquith
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Voice matters, even when constrained
Though her era placed limits on women in public life, Margot exercised influence through writing, speech, and social positioning. -
Candid perspective adds color to history
Her diaries and memoirs show how personal perception enriches understanding of public events. -
Charisma & boldness carry risk
Her outspokenness won her admiration, but sometimes cost her politically. Balancing openness and tact is delicate. -
Life at the intersection of private & public
As both spouse and author, she navigated intimacy, family, politics, and persona—her life reminds us that public roles don’t erase personal complexity. -
Legacy beyond one’s primary role
While she is often remembered in connection to her husband, she defined herself as an author, observer, critic, and social personality in her own right.
Conclusion
Margot Asquith’s life was anything but conventional. Born into privilege, she transformed that position into a distinctive public identity — one marked by sharp intelligence, stylistic boldness, and unapologetic presence. Through her memoirs, diaries, and social engagement, she cast a vivid light on the political, social, and cultural transformations of Britain from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. She remains a compelling figure for readers who value wit, candor, and the interplay between personal voice and historical events.