"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."
Winston Churchill
Politician, Writer, Historian
Winston Churchill was a British Prime Minister known for his leadership during WWII and his powerful oratory that inspired resilience and determination.
- Born
- November 30, 1874
- Died
- January 24, 1965
- Quotes
- 1.3K
- Rank
- #42
About Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill — Life and Legacy
Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II, is renowned for his steadfast leadership and stirring speeches that rallied a nation in crisis. His distinctive ability to convey strength and resolve is encapsulated in his famous assertion that 'success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.' This reflects his core belief in resilience and the necessity of perseverance in the face of adversity. Churchill's worldview was shaped by his experiences during the war, where he faced immense challenges and uncertainty. His quotes often reveal a deep understanding of human nature and the complexities of leadership. For instance, he remarked, 'Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities,' highlighting the critical role of bravery in leadership. This perspective challenged the prevailing notions of passivity and complacency, urging individuals to confront their fears. Today, Churchill's words resonate with those facing their own struggles, serving as a reminder of the enduring power of determination and action. His insights into leadership and resilience continue to inspire leaders and individuals alike, emphasizing that true strength lies in the ability to rise after falling.
Quote collection
Winston Churchill quotes (page 1 of 64)
1.3K quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"The POSITIVE THINKER sees the INVISIBLE, feels the INTANGIBLE, and achieves the IMPOSSIBLE."
"If you will not fight for 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 odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may be even a worse fate, you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
"Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions."
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
"When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one was ever thinking about you in the first place. You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."
"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die: but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."
"There is nothing government can give you that it hasn't taken from you in the first place."
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
"You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks."
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
"Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage."
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
"Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision."
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
"A nation that forgets its past has no future."
"If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty, you have no brain."
"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."
"A good speech should be like a woman's skirt: long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest"
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."