Exceptional Sayings.
The shores of England over many years have been the scene for exceptional statements from such infamous individuals as Julius Caesar who notably stated “I came, I saw, I conquered.” There have been emotional pledges, historical declarations and important moral building moments of oration which have arguably altered life as we know it and gone on to save lives. The words that have made history have also intrigued me as without them we may have had a vastly different life to the one we have now. Impacting on society, cultures and world wars there have been leading figures who have been able to grip the hearts and minds of a nation based on their chosen phrases. From Roman rebellions to Sir Winston Churchill's notable “We shall fight them on the beaches. We will never surrender.” These speeches have their own place in history. Winston Churchill was one such orator who could bring about tears of emotion to tears of laughter with his witty quips, in a lighter vain it is reported that Lady Astor said to Churchill once “Winston, if I were your wife I'd put poison in your tea.” Churchill's reply was “Nancy, if I were your husband I'd drink it.” Churchill was not only a great prime minister, his speeches had the power to inspire belief and hope at a crucial time and later he gave praise for the heroic RAF with these words “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
It is not only men who claim distinction in the war of words as Queen Elizabeth I rallied her supporters with the noted statement “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.”
In 1938 a jubilant Neville Chamberlain held aloft a single piece of paper stating “this is peace in Our time.” The document was the Munich agreement signed by Adolph Hitler. A short time later the United kingdom stood on the threshold of war. In a radio broadcast to the nation these words were said by Neville Chamberlain...
“I am speaking to you from the cabinet room at no 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador handed the German Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that this country is at war with Germany.”
A visitor to England in March 1931 spoke quietly but passionately to factory workers who had suffered loss of work because of India's own ability to weave fabric. They complained they only could work half a week but Mahatma Gandhi pointed out that in India workers there had no work and therefore no food. The English factory workers responded by cheering this bare foot sparsely clad symbol of India's efforts in self determination and development. Mahatma Gandhi advocated in India non violent protest at British rule that eventually lead to the independence of India in 1948.
Outside of England Martin Luther King spoke of having a dream of freedom. He stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Abraham Lincoln himself is credited with saving the Union of the United States of America after the civil war and was the 16th elected president. His second inaugural speech covered the need for reconciliation without malice and highlighted by quotes from the bible how people should behave. He stressed the evil of slavery and pondered the negativity of war, he suggested that the horror of war could be some sort of retribution. Could it have been these words that precipitated his own assassination as among the audience were the conspirators that later would act against him. It is reported that Lincoln had a premonition of the shooting in the theatre which was to take his life but that did not alter his actions or belief in human rights.
Admiral Lord Nelson was an individual who is known for being able to capture the essence of strength in the human spirit. In one battle the combined force of Spanish and French war ships totalled thirty three facing the British Twenty seven. Nelson ordered a message to be displayed “England expects every man to do his duty.” At the completion of the battle twenty two Spanish and French vessels had been destroyed without the loss of one British Ship. The joy of victory was overshadowed by Nelson's own death after a French sniper had recognised the distinctive uniform of Lord Nelson and his bullet had struck him in the lower spine. There is much controversy over Lord Nelson's final words but certainty in the fact that as a leader his words went on to inspire many notable historical acts.
It is an ironic thought that so many champions of peace, justice and good will should have suffered at the hands of violent acts. These individuals who with words achieved in captivating their audience, in guiding their fellow man to make history and in inspiring the notable events of many nations.
It is not only men who claim distinction in the war of words as Queen Elizabeth I rallied her supporters with the noted statement “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.”
In 1938 a jubilant Neville Chamberlain held aloft a single piece of paper stating “this is peace in Our time.” The document was the Munich agreement signed by Adolph Hitler. A short time later the United kingdom stood on the threshold of war. In a radio broadcast to the nation these words were said by Neville Chamberlain...
“I am speaking to you from the cabinet room at no 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador handed the German Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that this country is at war with Germany.”
A visitor to England in March 1931 spoke quietly but passionately to factory workers who had suffered loss of work because of India's own ability to weave fabric. They complained they only could work half a week but Mahatma Gandhi pointed out that in India workers there had no work and therefore no food. The English factory workers responded by cheering this bare foot sparsely clad symbol of India's efforts in self determination and development. Mahatma Gandhi advocated in India non violent protest at British rule that eventually lead to the independence of India in 1948.
Outside of England Martin Luther King spoke of having a dream of freedom. He stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Abraham Lincoln himself is credited with saving the Union of the United States of America after the civil war and was the 16th elected president. His second inaugural speech covered the need for reconciliation without malice and highlighted by quotes from the bible how people should behave. He stressed the evil of slavery and pondered the negativity of war, he suggested that the horror of war could be some sort of retribution. Could it have been these words that precipitated his own assassination as among the audience were the conspirators that later would act against him. It is reported that Lincoln had a premonition of the shooting in the theatre which was to take his life but that did not alter his actions or belief in human rights.
Admiral Lord Nelson was an individual who is known for being able to capture the essence of strength in the human spirit. In one battle the combined force of Spanish and French war ships totalled thirty three facing the British Twenty seven. Nelson ordered a message to be displayed “England expects every man to do his duty.” At the completion of the battle twenty two Spanish and French vessels had been destroyed without the loss of one British Ship. The joy of victory was overshadowed by Nelson's own death after a French sniper had recognised the distinctive uniform of Lord Nelson and his bullet had struck him in the lower spine. There is much controversy over Lord Nelson's final words but certainty in the fact that as a leader his words went on to inspire many notable historical acts.
It is an ironic thought that so many champions of peace, justice and good will should have suffered at the hands of violent acts. These individuals who with words achieved in captivating their audience, in guiding their fellow man to make history and in inspiring the notable events of many nations.
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