The Quotable Winston Churchill: A Collection of Wit and Wisdom

by Brrendan J. Cahill (Editor), Jennifer Leczkowski (Editor)

This portable guide includes inspirational quotes and excerpts from some of Churchill's most famous speeches, along with some of the pithy insights and acidic asides that won him admiration from his allies and unrelenting enmity from his rivals. This collection celebrates the mythic poise and mirthful prose of the man who led led Britain in its darkest hour.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 26, 2013

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb quotations and speeches by Winston Churchill, who, with all his flaws, was a great man and did so much to ensure victory in World War II. There is also an erudite introduction and a potted biography that puts more flesh on the Churchill bones.

His philosophy is summed up early in the book when he makes it clear, 'The price of greatness is responsibility' and when World War II came along he regularly told the nation about 'their finest hour' and also everywhere we would fight the enemy if it was necessary but he was honest enough to admit, 'The nation had the lion's heart. I had the luck to give the roar.' True enough, as is his 'I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.'

I particularly liked his pithy comment on Neville Chamberlain, 'He looked at foreign affairs through the wrong end of a municipal drainpipe.' But it would be nice if he could be around to analyse his following comment in the light of the current situation, 'If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another, and science will do for them all they wish and more than they can dream.' He would have the New World Order to contend with for starters! He would have to apply another of his maxims, 'Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never, - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.' But I wonder, would that even work today?

I also liked his honesty when declining a knighthood following the Tory defeat at the polls when he said, 'I could not receive the Order of the Garter from my sovereign when I received the order of the boot from his people.' But there is plenty to admire in this little book from the biography at the beginning through all the quotes and maxims to some of his rallying speeches at the end. It is a most enjoyable book about a great, if occasionally flawed, man.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad little read, but I would have preferred it to concentrate on Churchill’s full speeches with a few memorable quotes thrown in as a bonus

[Jonah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book on Winston Churchill. It contains quotes and wit of the most breathtaking person to have walked on this earth. It gives some insight to his life, therefore it’s not sufficient to become an expert on Churchill. However, this book can come in quite handy, for there are some people in need of his wit.

“I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” ~ Sir Winston Churchill

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book, with alot of very famous quotes, he really was a brilliant wordsmith. It was great to read some of his speeches.