Quotes

The Great War differed from all ancient wars in the immense power of the combatants and their fearful agencies of destruction, and from all modern wars in the utter ruthlessness with which it was fought. ... Europe and large parts of Asia and Africa became one vast battlefield on which after years of struggle not armies but nations broke and ran. When all was over, Torture and Cannibalism were the only two expedients that the civilized, scientific, Christian States had been able to deny themselves: and they were of doubtful utility.

For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all Parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history.

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.

Politics are almost as exciting as war, and – quite as dangerous ... In war, you can only be killed once. But in politics many times.

Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonour. They chose dishonour. They will have war.

Nothing can be more abhorrent to democracy than to imprison a person or keep him in prison because he is unpopular. This is really the test of civilization.

Nuclear energy is incomparably greater than the molecular energy which we use today.... What is lacking is the match to set the bonfire alight.

The price of greatness is responsibility.

The power of the Executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgment of his peers, is in the highest degree odious and is the foundation of all totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist.

We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance.

I am going to tell you something you must not tell to any human being. We have split the atom. The report of the great experiment has just come in. A bomb was let off in some wild spot in New Mexico. It was only a thirteen-pound bomb, but it made a crater half a mile across. People ten miles away lay with their feet towards the bomb; when it went off they rolled over and tried to look at the sky. But even with the darkest glasses it was impossible. It was the middle of the night, but it was as if seven suns had lit the earth; two hundred miles away the light could be seen. The bomb sent up smoke into the stratosphere... It is the Second Coming. The secret has been wrested from nature.

We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.

The forces of progress clash with those of reaction.

If you're going through hell, keep going.

The Times is speechless, and takes three columns to express its speechlessness.

I have not become the King’s First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

We are all worms. But I do believe I am a glow-worm.

Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.