Inspiring Quotes by Winston Churchill in Context

Inspiring Quotes by Winston Churchill in Context

Guest post by Rolf Lindgren

Winston Churchill first started writing for the newspapers when he was a 21-year-old military officer. In 1895 he covered the Cuban War of Independence. In 1897-1898 he covered events in India and the Sudan. Churchill became famous in 1899 while covering the Second Boer War in South Africa, when he was captured and then escaped. He was elected to parliament in 1900 and served 1901-1922 and 1924-1964! He was Prime Minister from 1940-1945 and 1951-1955.

In 1900, Winston Churchill went to meet Winston Churchill. Yes, you read that right. In a bizarre event seemingly quelled from the ‘Twilight Zone’, young Winston Churchill went to Boston on December 17, 1900 to meet American author Winston Churchill. This American Winston Churchill was more famous than the British Winston Churchill at the time. He was about three years older and both were still in their 20s. This Churchill had become rich and famous, also in 1899, for writing a blockbuster novel about the Revolutionary War titled ‘Richard Carvel’ (8-volume set). It sold 2 million copies. He followed this up with the #1 sellers in 1901, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1913, 1914, and 1915. And was 2nd in 1910. This Winston Churchill lived until 1947 although they never met again.

Back to our Winston Churchill. He was a great writer of non-fiction and one of the greatest orators ever known. His greatest books were multi-volume histories about the Duke of Marlborough (his ancestor), WWI, WWII, and ‘History of the English-Speaking Peoples’. He wrote 43 books in 72 total volumes.

During WWII and shortly afterwards, Winston Churchill made five of the most famous & inspiring quotations of all time. We will review them here.

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

May 13, 1940

Winston Churchill said this on the floor of the House of Commons three days after he was appointed Prime Minister. Germany had invaded France on May 10 and previous Prime Minister, Conservative Neville Chamberlain had resigned that day. Interesting, this speech was not recorded live. Churchill later recorded the speech for posterity.

“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.”

June 4, 1940

This quote is from a speech in the House of Commons. France was basically defeated by the Nazis at this time. Churchill knew an attack on England was coming next.

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

August 20, 1940

Churchill said this in a House of Commons speech praising the Royal Air Force, after England seemed to be turning the tide in the Battle of Britain. 

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

November 10, 1942

Churchill said this at a luncheon in London, after the Allies defeated German General Erwin Rommel (aka the Desert Fox) at the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. This battle turned the tide in North Africa in favor of the Allies.

“An iron curtain has descended across the Continent”

March 5, 1946

Churchill said this in a speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, announcing that the Cold War was here.

Winston Churchill lived until 1965 when he died on January 24. He was 90 years old.

Epilogue: A Funny Quote

Although mostly known for serious & inspiring speeches, Winston occasionally made a hilarious quip. Here is one of his best:

“If Hitler invaded hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons”.

Churchill said this to his private secretary on June 22, 1941, when Germany invaded Russia. He was comparing Josef Stalin to the devil.