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Statue by French sculptor Jean Cardot near the Petit Palais on Avenue Winston Churchill in Paris, modelled on a photograph taken as he marched down the Avenue des Champs Élysées with General Charles de Gaulle during the victory parade

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During his lifetime, Winston Churchill...

...published more than 40 books in 60 volumes and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

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...was made an honorary US citizen by President John F Kennedy.

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...escaped a prisoner of war camp in South Africa.

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...switched political parties–twice.

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...was in a car accident and nearly killed in the same year as Adolf Hitler.

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...painted more than 500 oil paintings during his lifetime.

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Do not turn the superior eye of critical passivity upon these efforts ... We must not be ambitious. We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joy ride in a paint-box.

~Winston Churchill, 'Painting as a Pastime'

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The Socialists have spared no expense in producing a policy for the next election. There is a great deal in it that is sound sense, as well as a lot more that is all sound and all nonsense.

~Winston Churchill, Woodford, Essex, 20 March 1959

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Statesmen are not called upon only to settle easy questions. These often settle themselves. It is where the balance quivers, and the proportions are veiled in mist, that the opportunity for world-saving decisions presents itself.

~Winston Churchill, 1948, The Second World War

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You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be.

~Winston Churchill, First speech as Prime Minister, House of Commons, 13 May 1940

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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.

~Winston Churchill, Harrow School, 29 October 1941

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In the twinkling of an eye, I found myself without an office, without a seat, without a party, and without an appendix.

~Winston Churchill, 1931, ‘Election Memories’, Strand Magazine

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Strength is granted to us all when we are needed to serve great causes.

~Winston Churchill, Waldorf Astoria, New York, 'Sinews of Peace', 15 March 1946

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We must always be ready to make sacrifices for the great causes; only in that way shall we live to keep our souls alive.

~Winston Churchill, Hotel Bristol, Oslo, 12 May 1948

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Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

~Winston Churchill, 18 June 1940

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In his lifetime, Churchill published more than 40 books in 60 volumes.

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In his lifetime, Churchill published more than 40 books in 60 volumes.

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Think you know Churchill?

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During his lifetime, Winston Churchill...

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Be inspired

Churchill’s Quotes

Do not turn the superior eye of critical passivity upon these efforts ... We must not be ambitious. We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joy ride in a paint-box.

The Socialists have spared no expense in producing a policy for the next election. There is a great deal in it that is sound sense, as well as a lot more that is all sound and all nonsense.

Statesmen are not called upon only to settle easy questions. These often settle themselves. It is where the balance quivers, and the proportions are veiled in mist, that the opportunity for world-saving decisions presents itself.

You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be.

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.

In the twinkling of an eye, I found myself without an office, without a seat, without a party, and without an appendix.

Strength is granted to us all when we are needed to serve great causes.

We must always be ready to make sacrifices for the great causes; only in that way shall we live to keep our souls alive.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

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Think you know Churchill?

Learn

Key Facts

During his lifetime, Winston Churchill...

words

Be inspired

Churchill’s Quotes

Do not turn the superior eye of critical passivity upon these efforts ... We must not be ambitious. We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joy ride in a paint-box.

The Socialists have spared no expense in producing a policy for the next election. There is a great deal in it that is sound sense, as well as a lot more that is all sound and all nonsense.

Statesmen are not called upon only to settle easy questions. These often settle themselves. It is where the balance quivers, and the proportions are veiled in mist, that the opportunity for world-saving decisions presents itself.

You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be.

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.

In the twinkling of an eye, I found myself without an office, without a seat, without a party, and without an appendix.

Strength is granted to us all when we are needed to serve great causes.

We must always be ready to make sacrifices for the great causes; only in that way shall we live to keep our souls alive.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

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