Winston Churchill has become one of the most iconic figures in the history of the twentieth century. His profound and undeniably memorable readings have been echoing for generations afterwards and will continue to inspire us for many more. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of history’s and Winston Churchill’s most remembered and beloved quotes.
We Shall Fight On The Beaches
This is without a doubt one of the most widely known quotes and is a major part of Churchill’s memorable legacy. It’s a direct and rousing call to action – the kind of clarity that comes with a great orator. Pronounced during a time of great difficulty and uncertainty, Churchill manages to imbue a sense of hope and determination through this address.
The quote itself comes from this full highlight of Churchill’s famous wartime speech spoken in London on 4 June 1940:
“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, 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.”
Never Give In
In addition to ‘We Shall Fight On The Beaches’, Winston Churchill’s resolute and unflinching creed ‘Never Give In’ has become a long-lasting rallying cry to mean never quit, never surrender and to rise above obstacles. Churchill’s steadfastness during the darkest of centuries embodied unwavering fortitude and conviction as he professed this immortal statement to be his primary guiding principle.
One of Churchill’s most famous public addresses, was made to the Harrow School in October 1941. This was his conclusion of that speech, famously referring to ‘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. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Success Is Not Final, Failure Is Not Fatal
Winston Churchill’s exhortation ‘Success Is Not Final, Failure Is Not Fatal’ is a deliberate call to arms – reinforcing that difficulties should never stop us from trying, and should never be seen as a sign of finality. This is a proverb as pertinent to young people today as it was in Churchill’s time. This quote also holds out hope to those who have experienced failure, offering encouragement that it is not the end.
The source of this perception altering phrase can be found in an address Churchill made to the House of Commons in 1939. In this address he said:
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
K – Keep Buggering On
Without question, Churchill remains as one of Britain’s most revered figures. On a more personal level, ‘KBO’ – short for ‘Keep Buggering On’ – testifies to Churchill’s famed stubbornness and refusal to give in to the monstrous Nazi regime during World War 2 or any other of his tests and trials. This expression has followed Churchill throughout history and into today’s lexicon.
Although there is no verifiable record of this quote, Winston Churchill allegedly said that despite going through dark and challenging times, he ‘just kept buggering on’ in order to find a way out.
We Shall Never Surrender
This is a slightly revised version of ‘We shall never surrender’, uttered in a speech delivered to the House of Commons on 5 June 1940 (a day before the ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ reading), and regarded as the most defining of the war years.
Churchill’s address to the House of Commons ends emphatically with a description of the will of the British people and his own resolve:
“We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. 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.”
Winston Churchill’s iconic quotes have long outlived him and will remain a source of motivation and inspiration for generations to come. His remarkable oratory skills have managed to capture the mood of an era and give a voice to a nation. These five quotes in particular continue to stand out and remind us that with determination and courage, we can achieve the impossible.
