The Occasional Observer

There has been no English-speaking political leader in the last 100 years who could stir the spirit more than Winston Churchill. For no reason in particular, I felt like sharing a few of Winston's rhetorical gems. While these aren't necessarily his more profound quotes, they show off his great (and salty) sense of humor:

"I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."

"If you are going through hell, keep going."

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."

"The substance of the eminent Socialist gentleman's speech is that making a profit is a sin, but it is my belief that the real sin is taking a loss."

"This report, by its very length, defends itself against the risk of being read."

"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose."

"I must point out that my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them."

OK, and a couple of profound quotes as well:

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others."

"Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on."

"When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."

"There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies."