I am still narked how Bush et al quote Churchill to strengthen their arguements. What do others think? Without hijacking the thread. I feel he's OUR best ever leader. Not yours hands off! Bit like us Brits can moan about this country but as soon as anyone else does the hackles go up! SOmetimes I wonder what won't get you Brits hackles up (chuckle) Okay so he IS YOUR Leader but forgive some of us for thinking that as far as the war went he was THE leader in terms of the allied cause (sorry FDR-o-philes). As to that wasn't Churchill's Mum a yank? or was it his grand mum? One of them was. So we COULD claim if we liked that he was HALF ours. I agree with you on the Bush thing, but then Hitler, Stalin, Tojo and Count Dracula would spin in their graves if they were quoted by the Texan from Kennebunkport.
This is probably misquoted, but I like it anyway: "Dogs look up to us and Cats look down at us, but pigs treat us as equals." So true. Copy that with and copy that again Kitty. Now THATS a bumpersticker for my Yugo! You know that cats saw that that dogs had a pretty good set up with humans, except for the running and fetching and work part of it. They confabbed amongst themselves and figured that they could improve on the deal and have. Show me a cat that will fetch anything. Mine were always happily freeloading roomates who puked on the carpet and wrecked the furniture. still have hairballs GM "Dogs follow. Cats lead." Merlin
Here's two from Fairport Harbor EBFE, "I had hoped at Anzio to land a wildcat. Instead I have beached a whale." Churchill on the stalemate at Anzio This one is possibly apocryphal (sp). Churchill was supposedly attending a theatre one eveing (after he was out of office.) Two women in the seats in front of him were talking. Unaware that the former Prime minister was behind them. Churchill's name some how came up an the two ladies began to comment unfavorably on him. "You know I hear that he's still a womanizer ad skirt chaser. Imagine at his age" said one. "Ohh yes and I've head that he is still quite a drunkard as well Even at his age." said the other. Churchill leaned forward and in his unmistakable baritone said. "Yes madam and they say I'm quite deaf as well." I may have the circumstances wrong and the exactness of it but as I say it may well be apocryphal, but it sounds Churchillian.
Churchill leaned forward and in his unmistakable baritone said. "Yes madam and they say I'm quite deaf as well." If not true, still makes a good story. If true, all the better!
“I am easily satisfied with the very best.” “There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true.” “Mr. Attlee is a very modest man. Indeed he has a lot to be modest about.” “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it” “You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” “I like a man who grins when he fights.”
As to that wasn't Churchill's Mum a yank? or was it his grand mum? One of them was. So we COULD claim if we liked that he was HALF ours. Many years ago, a little apprehensive, I called upon my Amercian wife-to-be's parents to ask her father for her hand in marriage. While she and her mother were anxiously listening from behind a closed door I made my entrance, with some trepidation it must be confessed. Having made the request there was a long period before a response was forthcoming. eventually her Dad stuck out his hand saying the never to be forgotten words: "Winston Churchill is half American - welcome to the family boy!" Cheers, Gerry PS: WSC's moher Lady Randolph Churchill (Clementine)was an American.
Many years ago, a little apprehensive, I called upon my Amercian wife-to-be's parents to ask her father for her hand in marriage. While she and her mother were anxiously listening from behind a closed door I made my entrance, with some trepidation it must be confessed. Having made the request there was a long period before a response was forthcoming. eventually her Dad stuck out his hand saying the never to be forgotten words: "Winston Churchill is half American - welcome to the family boy!" Cheers, Gerry PS: WSC's moher Lady Randolph Churchill (Clementine)was an American. Thnks Gerry, That's a great anecdote. The kind that makes the reader curious about the story leading up to that somewhat apprehensive interview. Best regards in your world wanderings GM
You had the choise between dishonour and war. You chose dishonour and you shall have war. After the Munich fiasco.
High-actual quote from Winston: “When the war of the giants is over the wars of the pygmies will begin”
"Although personally I am quite content with the existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement " From Statement by Prime Minister Atlee & Former Prime Minister Churchill on the Atomic Bomb
Obviously because my father Capt (then) J B Smethurst was there my favourite is "Before Alamein we never had a victory, after Alamein we never had a defeat"-however there are so many Churchill quotes that are brilliant but not famous. In trying to create a suitable sign off for this forum I found a line which I had never heard before but which really suits how I think.
I remember reading somewhere that he asked Ike to put him in a landing party for Normandy, and despite all the arguments Ike came up with, he remained inflexible. Then Ike called King George VI. and told him what was going on. The King replied: "I'll take care of him.". Afterwards the King called Churchill, and told him, that if he, the prime minister of Empire is to land in Normandy, than He, the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions shall lead the assault on the beaches. Afterwards Churchill changed his mind... "If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons."
I have a few favorites from Winston; “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” “The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.” "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." " I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." And these days there are professional "Motivational speakers" they're way behind the great man.
Just a slight digression with another great man "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." and... "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." Albert Einstein
YOU SPOKE TO ME THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TELEGRAMS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN EVIL WHICH OUGHT TO BE CHECKED. MINISTERS AND AMBASSADORS ABROAD SEEM TO THINK THAT THE BIGGER THE VOLUME OF THEIR REPORTS HOME THE BETTER IS THEIR TASK DISCHARGED. ALL KINDS OF GOSSIP AND RUMOURS ARE SENT, REGARDLESS OF CREDIBILITY. THE IDEA SEEMS TO BE TO KEEP UP A CONTINUED CHAT WHICH NO ONE EVER TRIES TO SHORTEN. I SUGGEST THAT YOU SHOULD ISSUE A GENERAL INJUNCTION BUT THAT IN ADDITION TELEGRAMS WHICH ARE UNDULY VERBOSE OR TRIVIAL SHOULD BE CRITICISED AS SUCH AND THEIR AUTHORS TOLD 'THIS TELEGRAM WAS NEEDLESSLY LONG'. IT IS SHEER LAZINESS NOT COMPRESSING THOUGHT INTO A REASONABLE SPACE. I TRY TO READ ALL THESE TELEGRAMS AND I THINK THE VOLUME GROWS FROM DAY TO DAY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. Churchill's telegram to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 11 January 1941. Substitute e-mail for 'telegram' and this would be equally if not more applicable today!
Thanks Owen. That Does look strangely familiar to me, I feel Cosy Now. And Here's a quote for the Canadian Contingent to get a Rosy Glow off. "Canada is the linchpin of the English-speaking world. Canada, with those relations of friendly, affectionate intimacy with the United States on the one hand and with her unswerving fidelity to the British Commonwealth and the Motherland on the other, is the link which joins together these great branches of the human family, a link which, spanning the oceans, brings the continents into their true relation and will prevent in future generations any growth of division between the proud and the happy nations of Europe and the great countries which have come into existence in the New World." (P.S. Keep sending the tanks, Cheers, winston.) When it gets past two lines you know Winnie has shifted from oratory to pure BS. Adam, you nailed it, if not tanks he was certainly looking for something.
Churchill's description of Attlee: "A modest man with much to be modest about." PS I believe he said that - I've certainly heard it, anyway. I could have gone and looked it up before posting to respect the authenticity of this site, but that would have spoiled the spontaneity. PPS On further reflection, typing the first PS spoilt the spontaneity of this post for me even more than looking it up would have done.
From the War-Diary Rob 21stJuly 1944. Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived to witness the Y270 HB Bombard shoot from the AGRA OP. He expressed himself greatly impressed with the effort of an AGRA concentration and of the extraordinary efficiency in controlling such a large weight of artillery made possible by wireless. He seemed disappointed that there was no retaliation and said, ‘Fancy all those shells have gone over and he hasn’t sent us one back in return’.
