Quotable Quote: Winston Churchill

I've always loved the statement by Winston Churchill that is usually quoted as "Never, never, never give up" or "Never, never, never quit." I even have it on my key chain as a daily reminder. The quote actually originates, from my research, from a speech he gave to the students of Harrow School in Middlesex, England, October 29, 1941.

I thought you might enjoy seeing it in its original context. As World War II was still raging on, this Triumphant leader inspired his countrymen to dig in and not give in. He inspired them and reminded them of just how powerful and capable they were, even in the face of incomparable odds.

Here's the speech, followed by a short bio on Mr. Churchill.

Never Give In, Never, Never, Never

Speech given at Harrow School, Middlesex, October 29, 1941

"When Churchill visited Harrow on October 29 to hear the traditional songs again, he discovered that an additional verse had been added to one of them. It ran:

Not less we praise in darker days
The leader of our nation,
And Churchill's name shall win acclaim
From each new generation.
For you have power in danger's hour
Our freedom to defend, Sir!
Though long the fight we know that right
Will triumph in the end, Sir!

You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination. But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period - I am addressing myself to the School - surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: 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.

We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated. 

Very different is the mood today. Britain, other nations thought, had drawn a sponge across her slate. But instead our country stood in the gap. There was no flinching and no thought of giving in; and by what seemed almost a miracle to those outside these Islands, though we ourselves never doubted it, we find ourselves in a position where I say that we can be sure we have only to persevere to conquer.

You sang here a verse of a School Song: you sang that extra verse written in my honour, which I was very greatly complimented by and which you have repeated today. But there is one word in it I want to alter - I wanted to do so last year, but I did not venture to. It is the line: "Not less we praise in darker days."

I have obtained the Head Master's permission to alter darker to sterner. "Not less we praise in sterner days."  Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill - biographical sketch

The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill is generally regarded as one of the most important leaders in British and world history.  An accomplished speaker, author, painter, soldier and war reporter, the mere sight of him, with the characteristic Cuban cigar in his mouth and two fingers raised in the “V for victory” sign encouraged the population. He was John Bull, a British mythical character and the symbol of the common people, come to life. With a powerful command of the English language, he wrote histories and biographies. Churchill served his country from 1895 to 1964. At 78, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1963, at the age of 88, the US Congress conferred on him honorary American citizenship.

Churchill died at the age of 90 with his wife and other family members at his bedside. His remains lay in state in Westminster Hall for three days—an honor not accorded any English statesman since Gladstone in 1898. The funeral followed at Saint Paul's cathedral.

By the way, two other Churchill quotes give us additional insight into the man. I appreciate them both. He said "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." The writer in me of course loves this.... He also stated, "My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me." Sounds to me like Sir Churchill had his priorities straight, and was a not just a statesman but also a talented salesman.

Cheerio.... JPR