Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.

If you are going through hell, keep going.

Bessie Braddock: Sir, you are drunk.
Churchill: And you, madam, are ugly. But in the morning, I shall be sober.

Lady Nancy Astor: Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea.
Churchill: Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.

To improve is to change. To be perfect is to change often.

The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative.

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.

History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.

The biggest argument against democracy is a five minute discussion with the average voter.

This paper by its very length defends itself against the risk of being read.

I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: 'I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.' We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Speech in the House of Commons, after taking office as Prime Minister (13 May 1940).

I am prepared to meet my maker; whether my maker is prepared to meet me is entirely another matter.

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. Speech given at Harrow School (1941-10-29).

The price of greatness is responsibility.

When I was younger I made it a rule never to take strong drink before lunch. It is now my rule never to do so before breakfast.

I have taken more good from alcohol than alcohol has taken from me.

One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.

Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonour. They chose dishonour. They will have war. To Neville Chamberlain in the House of Commons, after the Munich accords (1938).

Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.

There are a terrible lot of lies going around the world, and the worst of it is half of them are true.

I like a man who grins when he fights.

For myself, I am an optimist — it does not seem to be much use being anything else. Speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet in London (1954-11-09).

The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learnt to like it.

We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it. Speech in the House of Commons (1940-07-14).