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Quotes from The Second World War (book series) — Winston Churchill

1874–1965 England

← All quotes by Winston Churchill

17 quotes

Some people did not like this ceremonious style. But after all when you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

How many wars have been averted by patience and persisting good will!

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Of course, when you are winning a war almost everything that happens can be claimed to be right and wise.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein, we never had a defeat.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

I am reminded of the professor who, in his declining hours, was asked by his devoted pupils for his final counsel. He replied, "Verify your quotations."

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once 'The Unnecessary War'.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

War is mainly a catalogue of blunders.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Their horse cavalry, of which they had twelve brigades, charged valiantly against the swarming tanks and armoured cars but could not harm them with their swords and lances.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

This was one of the heaviest blows I can recall during the war....It was a bitter moment. Defeat is one thing; disgrace is another.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

How many wars have been precipitated by firebrands! How many misunderstandings which led to wars could have been removed by temporizing! How often have countries fought cruel wars and then after a few years found themselves not only friends but allies!

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Index entry, The Second World War, Volume I: The Gathering Storm (1948)

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Fascism was the shadow or ugly child of communism... As Fascism sprang from Communism, so Nazism developed from Fascism. Thus were set on foot those kindred movements which were destined soon to plunge the world into more hideous strife, which none can say has ended with their destruction.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Still, if you will not fight for the 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 the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves.

The Second World War (book series) (1948)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Winston Churchill (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.