Winston Churchill is one of the most quoted leaders of all time, yet many modern citations put words in the lion’s mouth. You’ve probably heard this one: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen” (looking at you, RG3). As Churchill himself said, “Verify your quotations.” For this reason, we’ve put together 10 authenticated Churchill quotes on important subjects.
ON LEADERSHIP
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”
“Arm yourselves and be ye men of valor and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar.”
“People who are not prepared to do unpopular things and defy clamor of the multitude are not fit to be ministers in times of difficulty.”
ON PAINTING
“I prefer landscapes. A tree doesn’t complain that I haven’t done it justice.”
ON NOT GIVING UP
“Success cannot be guaranteed. There are no safe battles.”
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!”
ON TRUTH-TELLING
“This is no time for windy platitudes and glittering advertisements. … We had far better go down telling the truth and acting in accordance with the virtues of our position than gain a shabbily-bought office by easy and fickle froth and chatter.”
“The essence of American journalism is vulgarity divested of truth.”
“Eating my words has never given me indigestion.”
ON SANDWICHES
“A gentleman does not have a ham sandwich without mustard.”
