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The Wit & Wisdom of Winston Churchill
An extremely entertaining compendium of bon mots, anecdotes, and trivia about Winston Churchill from a leading Churchill lecturer and performer -- useful for speakers, students, of history, and World War II buffs, as well as general readers.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 1994
121 people are currently reading
1723 people want to read
About the author
James C. Humes
49 books28 followersJames C. Humes was Ronald Reagan's speechwriter. He also wrote speeches for George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower. He has served as a communications advisor to major U.S. corporations, including IBM and DuPont. He is the author of twenty-three other books.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 20, 2020
Lovely little book of some of Churchill’s best quotes and anecdotes. Churchill was an amazing man. He wrote all his own speeches.
Here is my favorite anecdote:
“At a formal banquet in London, the attending dignitaries asked the question, ‘If you could not be who you are, who would you like to be?’ Naturally everyone was curious as to what Churchill, who was seated next to his beloved Clemmie, would say. Would Churchill say Julius Caesar or Napoleon? When it finally came Churchill’s turn, the old man, who was the dinner’s last respondent to the question, rose and give his answer.
‘If I could not be who I am, I would most like to be …’ and here he paused to take his wife’s hand, ‘Mrs. Churchill’s second husband.’”
Here are some of my favorites:
Being Blunt
“Do not hesitate to be blunt. … This is better done by manner and attitude than by actual words which can be reported.”
Books
“If you cannot read all your books, at any rate handle, or as it were, fondle them – peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set them back on their shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so that if you do not know what is in them, you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends, let them at any rate be your acquaintances.”
“Books in all their variety are often the means by which civilizations may be carried triumphantly forward.”
Capitalism and Socialism
“The vice of capitalism is that it stands for the unequal sharing of blessings; whereas the virtue of socialism is that it stands for the equal sharing of misery.”
Communism
“Trying to maintain good relations with a Communist is like wooing a crocodile. You do not know whether to tickle it under the chin or beat it over the head. When it opens its mouth, you cannot tell whether it is trying to smile or preparing to eat you up.”
Conservatism
“The difference between our outlook and the Socialist outlook is the difference between the ladder and the queue. We are for the ladder. Let all try their best to climb. They are for the queue.”
Faith
“It is bad for a nation when it is without faith.”
Family
“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most domineering virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained.”
“Where does the family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl. No superior alternative has yet been found.”
Fanatic
“A fanatic is one who won’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”
Foreign Policy
“A nation without a conscience is a nation without a soul. A nation without a soul is a nation that cannot live.”
Free Markets
“If you destroy a free market, you create a black market.”
Free Speech
“Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”
History
“A nation that forgets its past has no future.”
Hope
“Nourish your hopes but do not overlook realities.”
“There is time and hope if we combine patience with courage.”
“When you leave off dreaming, the universe ceases to exist.”
Horses
“Don’t give your child money. As far as you can afford it, give him horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.”
Israel
“A great event is taking place here, a great event in the world’s destiny. It is taking place without injury or injustice to anyone; it is transforming waste places into fertile; it is planting trees and developing agriculture in desert lands; it is making for an increase in wealth and of cultivation; it is making two blades of grass from where one grew before.”
“I am a Zionist. Let me make that clear. I was one of the original ones after the Balfour Declaration and I have worked faithfully at it.”
Leftists
“They are the most disagreeable of people. … Their insincerity? Can you not feel a sense of disgust at the arrogant presumption of superiority of these people? Superiority of intellect! Then, when it comes to practice, down they fall with a wallop not only to the level of ordinary human beings but to a level which is even far below the average.”
Libraries
“Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library.”
Motherhood
“The whole theme of motherhood and family life, with those sweet affections which illuminate it, must be the fountain spring of present happiness and future survival.”
Private Enterprise
“Some Socialists see private enterprise as a tiger—a predatory animal to be shot. Others see it as an old cow to be milked. But we Conservatives see it as the sturdy horse that pulls along our economy.”
Socialism
“Whenever socialism has been tried, it has failed.”
“If I were asked the difference between Socialism and Communism, I could only reply that the Socialist tries to lead us to disaster by foolish words and the Communist could try to drive us there by violent deeds.”
“The Socialist dream is no longer Utopia but Queue-topia!”
“No Socialist system can be established without a political police.”
Totalitarianism
“There are two non-God religions, Nazism and Communism – two peas … Tweedledum and Tweedledee. You leave out God and you substitute the Devil. You leave out love and you substitute hate.”
United Nations
“The U.N. was set up not to get us to Heaven but only to save us from Hell.”
World Divided or United
“It is better to have a world united than a world divided; but it is also better to have a world divided than a world destroyed.”
Worry
“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said … that he had a lot of issues in his life, most of which never happened.”
Here is my favorite anecdote:
“At a formal banquet in London, the attending dignitaries asked the question, ‘If you could not be who you are, who would you like to be?’ Naturally everyone was curious as to what Churchill, who was seated next to his beloved Clemmie, would say. Would Churchill say Julius Caesar or Napoleon? When it finally came Churchill’s turn, the old man, who was the dinner’s last respondent to the question, rose and give his answer.
‘If I could not be who I am, I would most like to be …’ and here he paused to take his wife’s hand, ‘Mrs. Churchill’s second husband.’”
Here are some of my favorites:
Being Blunt
“Do not hesitate to be blunt. … This is better done by manner and attitude than by actual words which can be reported.”
Books
“If you cannot read all your books, at any rate handle, or as it were, fondle them – peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set them back on their shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so that if you do not know what is in them, you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends, let them at any rate be your acquaintances.”
“Books in all their variety are often the means by which civilizations may be carried triumphantly forward.”
Capitalism and Socialism
“The vice of capitalism is that it stands for the unequal sharing of blessings; whereas the virtue of socialism is that it stands for the equal sharing of misery.”
Communism
“Trying to maintain good relations with a Communist is like wooing a crocodile. You do not know whether to tickle it under the chin or beat it over the head. When it opens its mouth, you cannot tell whether it is trying to smile or preparing to eat you up.”
Conservatism
“The difference between our outlook and the Socialist outlook is the difference between the ladder and the queue. We are for the ladder. Let all try their best to climb. They are for the queue.”
Faith
“It is bad for a nation when it is without faith.”
Family
“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most domineering virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained.”
“Where does the family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl. No superior alternative has yet been found.”
Fanatic
“A fanatic is one who won’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”
Foreign Policy
“A nation without a conscience is a nation without a soul. A nation without a soul is a nation that cannot live.”
Free Markets
“If you destroy a free market, you create a black market.”
Free Speech
“Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”
History
“A nation that forgets its past has no future.”
Hope
“Nourish your hopes but do not overlook realities.”
“There is time and hope if we combine patience with courage.”
“When you leave off dreaming, the universe ceases to exist.”
Horses
“Don’t give your child money. As far as you can afford it, give him horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.”
Israel
“A great event is taking place here, a great event in the world’s destiny. It is taking place without injury or injustice to anyone; it is transforming waste places into fertile; it is planting trees and developing agriculture in desert lands; it is making for an increase in wealth and of cultivation; it is making two blades of grass from where one grew before.”
“I am a Zionist. Let me make that clear. I was one of the original ones after the Balfour Declaration and I have worked faithfully at it.”
Leftists
“They are the most disagreeable of people. … Their insincerity? Can you not feel a sense of disgust at the arrogant presumption of superiority of these people? Superiority of intellect! Then, when it comes to practice, down they fall with a wallop not only to the level of ordinary human beings but to a level which is even far below the average.”
Libraries
“Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library.”
Motherhood
“The whole theme of motherhood and family life, with those sweet affections which illuminate it, must be the fountain spring of present happiness and future survival.”
Private Enterprise
“Some Socialists see private enterprise as a tiger—a predatory animal to be shot. Others see it as an old cow to be milked. But we Conservatives see it as the sturdy horse that pulls along our economy.”
Socialism
“Whenever socialism has been tried, it has failed.”
“If I were asked the difference between Socialism and Communism, I could only reply that the Socialist tries to lead us to disaster by foolish words and the Communist could try to drive us there by violent deeds.”
“The Socialist dream is no longer Utopia but Queue-topia!”
“No Socialist system can be established without a political police.”
Totalitarianism
“There are two non-God religions, Nazism and Communism – two peas … Tweedledum and Tweedledee. You leave out God and you substitute the Devil. You leave out love and you substitute hate.”
United Nations
“The U.N. was set up not to get us to Heaven but only to save us from Hell.”
World Divided or United
“It is better to have a world united than a world divided; but it is also better to have a world divided than a world destroyed.”
Worry
“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said … that he had a lot of issues in his life, most of which never happened.”
May 11, 2020
In our homeschool, we want to expose our students to primary source material from great conservative leaders of the Western World. This series by James C. Humes meets our needs nicely. These small books aren’t assigned reading, but they invariably find their way into the hands of student who has been studying a person or time period. It’s wonderful for them to read the subject in their own words, noting the differences in language, culture and context from our own time. I think they’ve provided valuable satisfaction of curiosity driven learning.
It works for adults, too! Here are my observations of the Churchill book, after reading it alongside Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile.
Humes presentation of Churchill is divided into five sections. The titles, and hopefully my astute comments, will give you some insight into each section so you can determine if it is a book you would like to read or own.
~ Observations and Opinions ~
My copy of the book runs 234 pages, and this section is the meat of the book, coming in at 107 pages. This can get tedious, as it’s just a list alphabetized by topic. Fun in small doses, before or after reading of Churchill, it is probably most useful for political speech writers or college essayists or historical fiction writers who want to pepper their work with some historical allusions. For example, it might be good for high school students to memorize one or two prior to a history or written exam for working into an essay.
~ Orations and Perorations ~
This section is a helpful chronological presentation of Churchill’s major speeches. The date, location, and context are presented before a brief paragraph or page of the meaty and oft quoted sections of the oration. A helpful overview for all Churchill students, you can even search for these events online and hear the audio. Overall, this section is an excellent primary source timeline to read alongside any Churchill or WWII narrative.
~ Coiner of Phrases ~
This intriguing 6 page section provides quotation of words or phrases that Churchill invented. These range from the world renown “Iron Curtain,” to his “benignant” foreign policy – benignant being a practice by which good metastases. Others such as “black dog” to reference his dark depression or “klop” his own name for a paper hole punch are more personal expressions.
~ Saints and Sinners ~
This section of Churchillian witticisms directed at public/ historical figures who pleased him, and especially those who did not, will make you laugh. It is clear that praise – and accountability – from Churchill were both earned.
~ Escapades and Encounters ~
This section is, perhaps, the height of humor. It presents scenarios of Churchill’s wit in action, mostly extemporaneously.
~ Appendices ~
This section helpfully lays out information for framing and researching the life of Winston Churchill. Sections include:
- Milestones - A timeline of Churchill’s life
- Books and Writings by Sir Winston Churchill – Comprehensive
- Bibliography - Many excellent resources for further reading. However, remember this work was published in 1995, meaning you won’t capture excellent publications since then.
- The International Churchill Societies - still active today and still the best resource on all things Churchill
- Index - a helpful tool for finding things in this book
For more on Churchill, see…
The Splendid and the Vile, Larson, 2020
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more from Humes, see…
The Wit & Wisdom of Ronald Reagan, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Wit & Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, Humes, 2001
The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln, 1996
It works for adults, too! Here are my observations of the Churchill book, after reading it alongside Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile.
Humes presentation of Churchill is divided into five sections. The titles, and hopefully my astute comments, will give you some insight into each section so you can determine if it is a book you would like to read or own.
~ Observations and Opinions ~
My copy of the book runs 234 pages, and this section is the meat of the book, coming in at 107 pages. This can get tedious, as it’s just a list alphabetized by topic. Fun in small doses, before or after reading of Churchill, it is probably most useful for political speech writers or college essayists or historical fiction writers who want to pepper their work with some historical allusions. For example, it might be good for high school students to memorize one or two prior to a history or written exam for working into an essay.
~ Orations and Perorations ~
This section is a helpful chronological presentation of Churchill’s major speeches. The date, location, and context are presented before a brief paragraph or page of the meaty and oft quoted sections of the oration. A helpful overview for all Churchill students, you can even search for these events online and hear the audio. Overall, this section is an excellent primary source timeline to read alongside any Churchill or WWII narrative.
~ Coiner of Phrases ~
This intriguing 6 page section provides quotation of words or phrases that Churchill invented. These range from the world renown “Iron Curtain,” to his “benignant” foreign policy – benignant being a practice by which good metastases. Others such as “black dog” to reference his dark depression or “klop” his own name for a paper hole punch are more personal expressions.
~ Saints and Sinners ~
This section of Churchillian witticisms directed at public/ historical figures who pleased him, and especially those who did not, will make you laugh. It is clear that praise – and accountability – from Churchill were both earned.
~ Escapades and Encounters ~
This section is, perhaps, the height of humor. It presents scenarios of Churchill’s wit in action, mostly extemporaneously.
~ Appendices ~
This section helpfully lays out information for framing and researching the life of Winston Churchill. Sections include:
- Milestones - A timeline of Churchill’s life
- Books and Writings by Sir Winston Churchill – Comprehensive
- Bibliography - Many excellent resources for further reading. However, remember this work was published in 1995, meaning you won’t capture excellent publications since then.
- The International Churchill Societies - still active today and still the best resource on all things Churchill
- Index - a helpful tool for finding things in this book
For more on Churchill, see…
The Splendid and the Vile, Larson, 2020
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more from Humes, see…
The Wit & Wisdom of Ronald Reagan, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Wit & Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, Humes, 2001
The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln, 1996
September 19, 2024
Fără doar și poate, cinci steluțe mai mult decât meritate, și aceasta dintr-o serie de motive.
Contează mai puțin faptul că volumul de față ne amintește de al doilea război mondial, deși în aceste vremuri tulburi ar fi cel mai indicat să învățăm din trecut. Iar unul dintre personajele cele mai potrivite pentru a ne pune în gardă este chiar W. C. personajul nostru central. Carismatic și morocănos, șugubăț și posac, o limbă ascuțită și un glas mieros, un domn adevărat și un veșnic frondeur, cu replica oricând pregătită, că vrem sau nu,Churchill va rămâne unul dintre pilonii istoriei noastre moderne.
Multe dintre vorbele sale de duh îmi erau cunoscute, în special cele rostite imediat după intrarea Marii Britanii în război, sau după Bătălia Angliei, sunt însă și altele pe care le-am citit în premieră, la fel de savuroase. Menționând și aportul fostului prim-ministru la îmbogățirea lexicului (cuvinte și expresii precum airplane, business as usual, bodyguard of lies, palimpsest, iron curtain îi aparțin), vă las în compania a câteva vorbe de duh. Cu cât sunt mai scurte, cu atât mi se par mai bune:
- adevărul are mai multe fațete, minciuna mai multe limbi
- cea ce majoritatea omaneilor numesc o judecată greșită este doar o judecată diferită de a lor
- nu poți trece peste o prăpastie din două salturi - GENIALĂ!!!
- e de mirare ce bine pot păstra oamenii secrete ce nu li s-au spus.
Și lista poate continua...
Contează mai puțin faptul că volumul de față ne amintește de al doilea război mondial, deși în aceste vremuri tulburi ar fi cel mai indicat să învățăm din trecut. Iar unul dintre personajele cele mai potrivite pentru a ne pune în gardă este chiar W. C. personajul nostru central. Carismatic și morocănos, șugubăț și posac, o limbă ascuțită și un glas mieros, un domn adevărat și un veșnic frondeur, cu replica oricând pregătită, că vrem sau nu,Churchill va rămâne unul dintre pilonii istoriei noastre moderne.
Multe dintre vorbele sale de duh îmi erau cunoscute, în special cele rostite imediat după intrarea Marii Britanii în război, sau după Bătălia Angliei, sunt însă și altele pe care le-am citit în premieră, la fel de savuroase. Menționând și aportul fostului prim-ministru la îmbogățirea lexicului (cuvinte și expresii precum airplane, business as usual, bodyguard of lies, palimpsest, iron curtain îi aparțin), vă las în compania a câteva vorbe de duh. Cu cât sunt mai scurte, cu atât mi se par mai bune:
- adevărul are mai multe fațete, minciuna mai multe limbi
- cea ce majoritatea omaneilor numesc o judecată greșită este doar o judecată diferită de a lor
- nu poți trece peste o prăpastie din două salturi - GENIALĂ!!!
- e de mirare ce bine pot păstra oamenii secrete ce nu li s-au spus.
Și lista poate continua...
January 17, 2025
A great idea for the coffee table (or the bathroom?) This is an amusing but by no means exhaustive compilation of Winston Churchill-isms. The quotes listed herein range for the mundane (On sandwiches: "The bread must be wafer thin. It is nothing more than a vehicle to convey the filling to the stomach") to the world-renowned ("...an iron curtain has descended across the continent"). Of course, he's at his best as a crusty old politician complaining or retorting (on Atlee: "He is a modest man with much to be modest about"), of which there are many examples in this little book. As a coffee table book, this is a great addition - you can pick it up and start at any page and read a few quotes for a chuckle or an interesting insight.
Hume does not pretend to have created the definitive quote book on Churchill with this volume, but it works well as a sampling. The only complaint is the lack of context from which the quotes are taken sometimes diminishes the impact. This is a minor complaint, however, and this book will supply me with quotes for the .sig file in my E-mails for years to come.
Hume does not pretend to have created the definitive quote book on Churchill with this volume, but it works well as a sampling. The only complaint is the lack of context from which the quotes are taken sometimes diminishes the impact. This is a minor complaint, however, and this book will supply me with quotes for the .sig file in my E-mails for years to come.
August 10, 2017
I'm a big Churchill fan, I even named my son Winston, this book puts all the familiar quotes & stories of Mr. Churchill in one neat package. It is a fun read, gives a mild insight into the genius of the great man, raises a smile or an eyebrow often enough to please the casual reader & gives enough insight to pique the interest of a student who might want to study the most interesting man of the 20th Century.
April 11, 2025
I give this short, quick read a five-of-five rating. So many intelligent, quick-wit things this guy said in his long life. I admire the wit.
I'm sure I won't remember a fraction of the funny things I read in this book. Only that I enjoyed reading this book.
I'm sure I won't remember a fraction of the funny things I read in this book. Only that I enjoyed reading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2018
Short and sweet but what a snarky person!
January 6, 2020
Great book about one of history's greatest statesmen and most prolific writers.
January 24, 2025
I found this inspiring, and look forward to reading more about Winston Churchill and more from James Humes.
Want to read
November 20, 2025SM
January 2, 2012
Profound and entertaining, I have been reading this book by bits for weeks. Full of anecdotes and quotations. A few of my favorites quotes—
“Some Socialists see private enterprise as a tiger—a predatory animal to be shot. Others see it as an old cow to be milked. But we Conservatives see it as the sturdy horse that pulls along our economy.”
“Do not hesitate to be blunt….This is better done by manner and attitude than by actual words which can be reported.”
“Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library.”
“In my behalf you cannot deal with the most serious things in the world unless you also understand the most amusing.”
“There is a great deal of difference between the tired man who wants a book to read and the alert man who wants to read a book.”
“Great events and personalities are all made small when passed through the medium of a small mind.”
“The vice of capitalism is that it stands for the unequal sharing of blessings; whereas the virtue of socialism is that it stands for the equal sharing of misery.”
“Virtuous motives, trammeled by inertia and timidity, are no match for armed and resolute wickedness.”
“An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last.”
“The whole theme of motherhood and family life, with those sweet affections which illuminate it, must be the fountain spring of present happiness and future survival.”
“The finest combination in the world is power and mercy. The worst combination is weakness and strife.”
Churchill has “more words published than Dickens and Sir Walter Scott combined.” He wrote all of his own political speeches and even won a Nobel Prize for his wartime speeches.
Churchill was amazing, and Humes idolizes him. However, I thought some of Humes’ claims were equivocal, thus the 4 stars. This was a very fitting title: Wit and Wisdom, and reading this has impressed me to want to learn more about Churchill.
“Some Socialists see private enterprise as a tiger—a predatory animal to be shot. Others see it as an old cow to be milked. But we Conservatives see it as the sturdy horse that pulls along our economy.”
“Do not hesitate to be blunt….This is better done by manner and attitude than by actual words which can be reported.”
“Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library.”
“In my behalf you cannot deal with the most serious things in the world unless you also understand the most amusing.”
“There is a great deal of difference between the tired man who wants a book to read and the alert man who wants to read a book.”
“Great events and personalities are all made small when passed through the medium of a small mind.”
“The vice of capitalism is that it stands for the unequal sharing of blessings; whereas the virtue of socialism is that it stands for the equal sharing of misery.”
“Virtuous motives, trammeled by inertia and timidity, are no match for armed and resolute wickedness.”
“An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last.”
“The whole theme of motherhood and family life, with those sweet affections which illuminate it, must be the fountain spring of present happiness and future survival.”
“The finest combination in the world is power and mercy. The worst combination is weakness and strife.”
Churchill has “more words published than Dickens and Sir Walter Scott combined.” He wrote all of his own political speeches and even won a Nobel Prize for his wartime speeches.
Churchill was amazing, and Humes idolizes him. However, I thought some of Humes’ claims were equivocal, thus the 4 stars. This was a very fitting title: Wit and Wisdom, and reading this has impressed me to want to learn more about Churchill.
November 19, 2012
N-am reusit sa termin asta pentru ca imi ia ingrozitor de mult s-o citesc (si e de la biblioteca), dar, candva...
Cateva citate care mi-au placut in mod special (desi majoritatea mi s-au parut geniale):
Dictatura: "Odrasla monstruoasa a starii de urgenta."; "Fetisizarea unui om"
"Daca incerci sa fii in siguranta peste tot, nu esti puternic nicaieri."
"Tributul ultim este propria constiinta."
"Comunismul este o religie... Iezuiti fara Iisus."
"Pacatul capitalismului este ca sustine impartirea inegala a bunastarii, in vreme ce virtutea socialismului e ca sustine impartirea egala a saraciei."
"Ar trebui sa existe o hegiologie a stiintei medicale si ar trebui sa avem zile sfinte pentru celebrarea marilor descoperiri facute pentru intreaga omenire... o sarbatoare, o zi de slava intru cinstirea Sfintei Anestezia si a preacuratului, neprihanitului Sfant Antiseptic, iar daca ar fi sa aleg, as sarbatori-o pe Sfanta Penicilina."
"Exista doua feluri de succes: initial si final."
Opozitie: "Daca n-as putea fi dirijorul orchestrei as vrea sa fiu timpanistul."
"Daca distrugi o piata libera, creezi o piata neagra."
aaand my personal favourite - "Democratia este cea mai rea forma de guvernare, cu exceptia tuturor celorlalte forme care au fost incercate din cand in cand."
Acum realizez ca sunt foarte putine. De ce sunt asa putine?! Subliniasem aproape jumatate din ce-am citit <.<
Cateva citate care mi-au placut in mod special (desi majoritatea mi s-au parut geniale):
Dictatura: "Odrasla monstruoasa a starii de urgenta."; "Fetisizarea unui om"
"Daca incerci sa fii in siguranta peste tot, nu esti puternic nicaieri."
"Tributul ultim este propria constiinta."
"Comunismul este o religie... Iezuiti fara Iisus."
"Pacatul capitalismului este ca sustine impartirea inegala a bunastarii, in vreme ce virtutea socialismului e ca sustine impartirea egala a saraciei."
"Ar trebui sa existe o hegiologie a stiintei medicale si ar trebui sa avem zile sfinte pentru celebrarea marilor descoperiri facute pentru intreaga omenire... o sarbatoare, o zi de slava intru cinstirea Sfintei Anestezia si a preacuratului, neprihanitului Sfant Antiseptic, iar daca ar fi sa aleg, as sarbatori-o pe Sfanta Penicilina."
"Exista doua feluri de succes: initial si final."
Opozitie: "Daca n-as putea fi dirijorul orchestrei as vrea sa fiu timpanistul."
"Daca distrugi o piata libera, creezi o piata neagra."
aaand my personal favourite - "Democratia este cea mai rea forma de guvernare, cu exceptia tuturor celorlalte forme care au fost incercate din cand in cand."
Acum realizez ca sunt foarte putine. De ce sunt asa putine?! Subliniasem aproape jumatate din ce-am citit <.<
January 8, 2017
Winston Churchill in his first public speech, stuttered, had a lisp, had no university experience and he fainted from fear. Later in life he would give the greatest speeches and he was not afraid to tell anyone, anything... Lady Astor said "Winston, if you were my husband I would flavour your coffee with poison."
Churchill replied, "Madam, if I were your husband, I should drink it."
After finishing a biography about Winston Churchill, by James Humes, a presidential speech writer. In the year Disneyland opened, Coca-cola introduced the can and Rosa Parks was arrested, Churchill was meeting 200 pound Bessie Braddock, “'You are drunk Sir Winston, you are disgustingly drunk.
'Yes, Mrs. Braddock, I am drunk. But you, Mrs. Braddock are ugly, and disgustingly fat. But, tomorrow morning, I, Winston Churchill will be sober.”
Churchill replied, "Madam, if I were your husband, I should drink it."
After finishing a biography about Winston Churchill, by James Humes, a presidential speech writer. In the year Disneyland opened, Coca-cola introduced the can and Rosa Parks was arrested, Churchill was meeting 200 pound Bessie Braddock, “'You are drunk Sir Winston, you are disgustingly drunk.
'Yes, Mrs. Braddock, I am drunk. But you, Mrs. Braddock are ugly, and disgustingly fat. But, tomorrow morning, I, Winston Churchill will be sober.”
June 14, 2014
You know what you’re getting with something like this – a fantastic collection of the wise words of Winston Churchill, from his pre-war years to his reflections as his death approached him. It’s an inspiring read, even if you occasionally have no idea what or who he’s talking about – there are also some notable omissions, such as his legendary comeback to Bessie Braddock.
In all honesty, Churchill is a man that we can all learn a lot from, and as this is such a short read (I read it on my commute to work), there’s no excuse not for you to check it out. The great man himself sums up my feelings towards this book better than I can: “The journey has been enjoyable and well worth making – once.”
In all honesty, Churchill is a man that we can all learn a lot from, and as this is such a short read (I read it on my commute to work), there’s no excuse not for you to check it out. The great man himself sums up my feelings towards this book better than I can: “The journey has been enjoyable and well worth making – once.”
May 21, 2015
What a treasure. It's an all-in-one stop for lovers of Churchill. This collection is done with such a clever organization that the vastness and depth of Churchill's life is made readily accessible. This book compiles all the very best of what we love about the man, but does so in a way that makes it so easy to navigate back to our favorite anecdotes, stories, quotes, and references.
December 17, 2008
Great little book of some of Churchill's best. I bought this book to accompany the dry and long "Young Man in a Hurry" and I'm glad I did. It added some life and personality to a man overflowing with both (despite the fact that his biography did its best to suck it out).
Great little quick read.
Great little quick read.
Read
July 2, 2010This is a fun evening's browse, though I was disappointed to learn that 'rum, sodomy, and the lash,' was not something he actually said. I've always thought that it was one of the greatest comebacks in history.
May 30, 2012
I saw the author do his Churchill shtick a few years ago, and he was entertaining and informative enough for me to buy the book. Set me on a Churchill-related reading thread, so I guess I enjoyed it.
April 12, 2016
This great book gave me my beloved girlfriend.. i think that is not a book for reading, but just for picking up some quotes.. and we know that Winston got lot to say!
Nevermind, it counts to reading challenge! :))
Nevermind, it counts to reading challenge! :))
September 2, 2025
minus 3 stars for not having more quotes
June 29, 2013
Decent read to learn a little about Churchill. There were repeated quotes which is understandable with the section headings but I didn't like seeing that regardless.
August 4, 2013
No context for quotes but some great jewels hidden inside.
September 3, 2015
I had heard most of the good ones before.
February 19, 2016
Great little quick read.
It really adds something to the Churchill you know.
I love this book it gives some insight and quotes about the 'wit and wisdom' of Churchill.
Really Great Book
It really adds something to the Churchill you know.
I love this book it gives some insight and quotes about the 'wit and wisdom' of Churchill.
Really Great Book
April 16, 2017
Excellent collection of his quotes with fuller context
May 29, 2008
One of my all time favorite Churchill books!
Read
December 5, 2017A Personal View of a great mind and man
A wonderful account from the great mind of this man. He delivered many radio broadcasts that propelled humanity to defeat the Nazi regime for liberty and the preservation of dignity.
A wonderful account from the great mind of this man. He delivered many radio broadcasts that propelled humanity to defeat the Nazi regime for liberty and the preservation of dignity.
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