Winston Churchill

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.

No crime is so great as daring to excel.

When the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber.

Socialism is like a dream. Sooner or later you wake up to reality.

Danger – if you meet it promptly and without flinching – you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!

These are not dark days: these are great days – the greatest days our country has ever lived.

After all the field of battle possesses many advantages over the drawing-room. There at least is no room for pretension or excessive ceremony, no shaking of hands or rubbing of noses, which make one doubt your sincerity, but hearty as well as hard hand-play. It at least exhibits one of the faces of humanity, the former only a mask.

It is fatal to enter an war without the will to win it.

The enemy is in front of us, the enemy is behind us, the enemy is to the right and to the left of us. They can’t get away this time!

What we need is Star Peace and not Star Wars.

If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.

I quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though I will still make use and get advantage of her as I can, as is usual in such cases.

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.

We had 10 years after the Cold War to build a new world order and yet we squandered them. The United States cannot tolerate anyone acting independently. Every US president has to have a war.

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality.

Once war is forced upon us, there is no alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War’s very object is victory-not prolonged indecision.

I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier.

It is a sweet and seemly thing to die for one’s country.

[John McCain is]… not a war hero. He’s a war hero – he’s a war hero ’cause he was captured. I Like people that weren’t captured, OK, I hate to tell you.