“Churchillisms”
Certainly, one of the greatest figures of our time was Winston Churchill. Not only did Sir Winston have great vision and staying power, which helped to lead parts of the Western World out of Naziism, but he also had a great wit and could easily laugh at himself as well as others.
I had the great honor of receiving a note from Lady Churchill after Sir Winston’s death. What a lady she was and how he loved her!
We thought it would be fun for you if we shared some of his sayings. Here are a few of our favorites:
1. Never give in – never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
2. If you are going through hell, keep going.
3. A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
4. My most brilliant achievement was my ability to persuade my wife to marry me.
5. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
6. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never give up.
7. A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.
8. Victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.
9. It is no use saying, “We are doing our best”. You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.
10. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
The unforgettable, the indefatigable, and the indomitable Sir Winston Churchill.
PS There is one more that your Two Chums find very amusing and it is:
Lady Astor: “Winston, if I were your wife I’d put poison in your coffee.”
Winston Churchill: “Nancy, if I were your husband I’d drink it.”
Yes, he had a wonderful sense of humor!
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Oh, you saved the best for the PS at the end!! I’ve heard some other funny ones as he had a great quick wit.
If anyone is ever visiting London, one of my favorite things to do is to visit The Cabinet War Rooms at Whitehall where Sir Winston ran the war. In recent years they have added an entire museum dedicated to Churchill’s life including so many of his personal affects and much about the war, including all of his most famous speeches, in his own voice. It is a MUST if you have even a small interest in the life of Winston Churchill.
Maybe we could have one more Churchill day, Jackie!!
Thanks, Dick, for reminding us of The Cabinet War Rooms. Yes, a must when and if in London. What a man he was!
My favorite, “Show me a young conservative and I will show you someone with no heart, show me an old liberal and I will show you someone with no brains!”
He had such a great wit!
Churchill had the ability to say something sarcastically that you had to think about;
Bessie Braddock: “Sir, you are drunk.”
Churchill: “Madam, you are ugly. In the morning, I shall be sober.”
Each time I read something regarding the people we vote into office I remember:
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Yes, Churchill was an amazing man – really amazing!
Love all of his quotes.
xo
Truly, an enduring legend, for all us us to admire and emulate for his brave wit- often under fire!
We can all apreciate his wisdom and his wit…being witty yourself you especially can appreciate his quick dry sense of humor 🙂