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Winston Churchill

Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

(1874 - 1965)

Leaders Politicians Prime Ministers
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real.
Safety
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Unless some effective supranational government can be set up and brought quickly into action, the prospects of peace and human progress are dark and doubtful.
Actions - Human - Progression - Prospect
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The world today is ruled by harassed politicians absorbed in getting into office or turning out the other man so that not much room is left for debating the great issues on their merits
Man
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may be even a worse fate, you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.
Slavery
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

If you cannot read all your books, at any rate handle them, and, as it were, fondle them. Let them fall open where they will. Make a voyage of discovery, taking soundings of uncharted seas.
Fall
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

I was on the whole considerably discouraged by my school days... It is not pleasant to feel oneself so completely outclassed and left behind at the very beginning of the race.
Discouragement - Dyslexia - Feelings - Pleasure - Whole
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
Blessing - Equality - Misery - Vices
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Plans are worthless. Planning is priceless.
Plan - Worthlessness
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

It is a fine game to play - the game of politics - and it is well worth waiting for a good hand before really plunging.
Game - Playing - Wellness
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Things do not get better by being left alone.
Actions
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

There was a man who sold a hyena skin while the beast still lived and who was killed in hunting it.
Man
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Although always prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it should be postponed.
Martyr - Preparedness
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Wars are not won by evacuations.
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Success in life is the ability to move from one mistake to another without loosing enthusiasm.
Movement
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

It is the English-speaking nations who, almost alone, keep alight the torch of Freedom.
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Say what you have to say and the first time you come to a sentence with a grammatical ending - sit down.
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it.
Belief
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The arts are essen­tial to any com­plete national life. The State owes it to itself to sus­tain and encour­age them. [...] Ill fares the race which fails to salute the arts with the rev­er­ence and delight which are their due.
Illness - State
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

I'd rather be right than consistent.
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

There comes a precious moment in all of our lives when we are tapped on the shoulder and offered the opportunity to do something very special that is unique to us and our abilities, what a tragedy it would be if we are not ready or willing.
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The reservist is twice the citizen.
Citizenry
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hope soon to be swept away.
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

A man must choose his own way of life, and…it is only by following out one’s own bent that there can be the really harmonious life.” [In an interview conducted by Bram Stoker]
Follower - Harmony - Man
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Thus, then, on the night of the tenth of May, at the outset of this mighty battle, I acquired the chief power in the State, which henceforth I wielded in ever-growing measure for five years and three months of world war, at the end of which time, all our enemies having surrendered unconditionally or being about to do so, I was immediately dismissed by the British electorate from all further conduct of their affairs.
Affairs - Election - End - State
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

If we could get out of this jam by giving up Malta and Gibraltar and some African colonies I would jump at it. But the only safe way is to convince Hitler that he cannot beat us.
Safety
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The world, nature, human beings, do not move like machines. The edges are never clear-cut, but always frayed. Nature never draws a line without smudging it.
Human - Machine - Movement
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

The reason for having diplomatic relations is not to confer a compliment, but to secure a convenience. [On diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic of China]
Security
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

A joke is a very serious thing.
Humor - Joking - Serious
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

For the first time I heard shots fired in anger, heard bullets strike flesh or whistle through the air.
Actions - Hearing
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

...Have the stresses of war been as bad to you personally as carrying through the policy of Collective Farms?
Farming
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

Mr. Chamberlain loves the working man, he loves to see him work.
Man
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Winston Churchill

Former Prime Minister of the U.K.

When you are winning a war almost everything that happens can be claimed to be right and wise.
Wisdom
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