In 1874

On this day in 1874 the one and only Winston Churchill was born!

Born to Lord Randolph Churchill and American, Jennie Jerome, by all accounts, Winston did not excel in his schooling.  He certainly had sufficient intelligence but apparently was “careless and unpunctual”.  He narrowly passed the entrance exam for Harrow, a renowned English boarding school but did end up being educated there, the last three years in the army form as his father insisted that he have military training.  He adored his mother but was not close to his father.

“And the rest is history”, as they say!  Sir Winston Churchill ended up guiding the UK through World War II and is heralded as one of the world’s greatest leaders.

Some of his wonderful quotes:

“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation,  indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.”

“Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.”

“From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.”

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”

:However bountiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”

“I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosities he excites among his opponents.”

“I like pigs.  Dogs look up to us.  Cats look down on us.  Pigs treat us as equals.”

“It is a mistake to look too far ahead.  The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.”

“It’s not enough that we do our best;  sometimes we have to do what’s required.”

Celebrating Sir Winston Churchill today.  Hip, hip, hooray!  Hip, hip hooray!