Winston Churchill

We have a lot of anxieties, and one cancels out another very often.

The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.

The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.

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.

This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.

I was very glad that Mr. Attlee described my speeches in the war as expressing the will not only of Parliament but of the whole nation. Their will was resolute and remorseless and, as it proved, unconquerable. It fell to me to express it, and if I found the right words you must remember that I have always earned my living by my pen and by my tongue. It was a nation and race dwelling all round the globe that had the lion heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar.

Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.

Water is the only drink for a wise man.

It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy.

Language is the archives of history.

My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, Sir, I am your most humble servant. You are not his most humble servant. You may say, These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times. You don’t mind the times … You may talk in this manner; it is a mode of talking in Society; but don’t think foolishly.

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.

It is only through labour and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage; that we move on to better things.

The hour of departure has arrived and we go our ways; I to die, and you to live. Which is better? Only God knows.

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.

Avoid popularity it has many snares and no real benefit.

Hitch your wagon to a star. Let us not fag in paltry works which serve our pot and bag alone.

I answer the heroic question Death where is thy sting? It is here in my heart and mind and memories