Polly Toynbee
Full Name and Common Aliases
Polly Toynbee
Birth and Death Dates
22 November 1946 - present
Nationality and Profession(s)
British journalist, author, and broadcaster
Early Life and Background
Polly Toynbee was born on 22 November 1946 in London, England. Her father, Philip Toynbee, was a renowned literary critic and her mother, Clare Toynbee, was an artist and illustrator. Growing up in a family of intellectuals, Polly developed a passion for writing and journalism from an early age.
Toynbee attended the University of Cambridge, where she studied English literature at Newnham College. During her time at university, she began to develop her skills as a journalist by contributing to various student publications. After graduating, she worked briefly as a teacher before embarking on a career in journalism.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her illustrious career, Polly Toynbee has achieved numerous milestones that have cemented her position as one of the most respected and influential journalists of our time. Some of her notable accomplishments include:
She was appointed as the Social Affairs Editor for The Guardian, a role she held from 1986 to 1994.
Toynbee has written several books on politics, social issues, and culture, including Hard Pounded: Politics and Nationalism in Ireland (1971) and Dismembering the Nation (1993).
In 2007, she was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her services to journalism.Notable Works or Actions
Polly Toynbee has been a vocal advocate for social justice and human rights throughout her career. Some of her notable works and actions include:
She was a key figure in exposing the scandal surrounding the treatment of vulnerable children in care homes during the 1970s.
* Toynbee has been a consistent critic of government policies that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including her critiques of austerity measures and welfare reform.
Impact and Legacy
Polly Toynbee's influence on contemporary politics and journalism cannot be overstated. Her fearless approach to storytelling and commitment to social justice have inspired generations of journalists and activists. Through her work, she has helped shape public opinion and inform policy debates on issues such as poverty, inequality, and human rights.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Polly Toynbee is widely quoted and remembered for her unwavering commitment to social justice and her uncompromising approach to journalism. Her unique voice and perspective have made her a trusted source of insight on the complex issues facing our world today. As a prominent figure in British journalism, she continues to be an important voice for those seeking truth and accountability in politics.
Quotes by Polly Toynbee
So what really works? Treatments in jail do some good, but it’s mostly too late: finding a family and a job or just growing older make most prisoners eventually give up crime.
It is now possible to quantify people’s levels of happiness pretty accurately by asking them, by observation, and by measuring electrical activity in the brain, in degrees from terrible pain to sublime joy.
The strongest predictor of unhappiness is anyone who has had a mental illness in the last 10 years. It is an even stronger predictor of unhappiness than poverty – which also ranks highly.
My mother begged doctors to end her life. She was beyond the physical ability to swallow enough of the weak morphine pills she had around her. When she knew she was dying I promised to make sure she could go at a time of her choosing, but it was impossible. I couldn’t help.
How do you make any sense of history, art or literature without knowing the stories and iconography of your own culture and all the world’s main religions?
Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust of women’s bodies.
Nothing keeps people together like the exalted conviction that they alone are to be spared that eternal anguish of hell fire to which everyone else will be condemned.
Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust of women's bodies.
Feminism is the most revolutionary idea there has ever been. Equality for women demands a change in the human psyche, more profound than anything Marx dreamed of. It means valuing parenthood as much as we value banking.
What is all that ministerial toil and effort for, if not a constant attempt to allow the greatest number to live in as much happiness as possible?