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Winston Churchill Quotes about War

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In war it does not matter who is right, but who is left.

In war it does not matter who is right, but who is left.

Winston Churchill
Funny, Witty, War

If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may be even a worse fate, you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

Winston Churchill
Peace, Freedom, War
Winston Churchill (1986). “The Gathering Storm”, p.312, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free, and life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fall, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age... 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
War, Moving, Fall
Hansard 18 June 1940, col. 60

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

Winston Churchill
Determination, Military, War
Speech in House of Commons, 13 May 1940

You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war.

Winston Churchill
War, Choices, Politics
Sir Winston Churchill (1965). “Memoral Addresses and Tributes”

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.

Winston Churchill
Fear, War, Greatest Victory
Speech in House of Commons, 13 May 1940

War is horrible, but slavery is worse.

Winston Churchill
War, Slavery, Horrible

Politics is more dangerous than war, for in war you are only killed once.

Winston Churchill
War, Politics, Dangerous

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Winston Churchill
Memorial Day, Military, War
Speech in House of Commons, 20 Aug. 1940

Don't be careless about yourselves--on the other hand not too careful. Live well but do not flaunt it. Laugh a little and teach your men to laugh--get good humor under fire--war is a game that's played with a smile. If you can't smile, grin. If you can't grin, keep out of the way till you can.

Winston Churchill
War, Caring, Men

I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes.

Winston Churchill
War, Poison Gas, Tribes
Winston S. Churchill (2013). “Churchill By Himself”, p.375, RosettaBooks

To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.

Winston Churchill
Peace, Giving Up, War
Remarks at White House luncheon,Washington, D.C., 26 June 1954

If, however, there is to be a war of nerves let us make sure our nerves are strong and are fortified by the deepest convictions of our hearts.

Winston Churchill
Strong, Military, War

You ask, What is our policy? I will 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 with one word: 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.

Winston Churchill
Change, Giving Up, War
Hansard 13 May 1940, col. 1502

Wars are not won by evacuations.

Winston Churchill
Giving Up, War, Don't Give Up
Winston Churchill (1986). “Their Finest Hour”, p.103, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

You must understand that this war is not against Hitler or National Socialism, but against the strength of the German people, which is to be smashed once and for all, regardless of whether it is in the hands of Hitler or a Jesuit priest.

Winston Churchill
War, Hate, Hands

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.

Winston Churchill
Peace, Military, War
Winston Churchill (2010). “My Early Life: 1874-1904”, p.227, Simon and Schuster

In War: Resolution; In Defeat: Defiance; In Victory: Magnanimity; In Peace: Good Will.

Winston Churchill
Peace, War, Victory And Defeat
"Marlborough; his life and times".

I have found in my experience of war, that plans are useless, but planning is invaluable.

Winston Churchill
War, Useless, Planning

This truth may be unfashionable, unpalatable, no doubt unpopular, but, if it is the truth, the story of mankind shows that war was universal and unceasing for millions of years before armaments were invented or armies organized. Indeed, the lucid intervals of peace and order only occurred in human history after armaments in the hands of strong governments have come into being, and civilization in every age has been nursed only in cradles guarded by superior weapons and superior discipline.

Winston Churchill
Strong, War, Army

Any clever person can make plans for winning a war if he has no responsibility for carrying them out.

Winston Churchill
Clever, War, Responsibility
Winston Churchill (1986). “The Hinge of Fate”, p.499, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

No one can guarantee success in war, but only deserve it.

Winston Churchill
Success, War, Congratulations
Letter to Lord Wavell, 26 Nov. 1940, in Second World War (1949) vol. 2, ch. 27

I think a curse should rest on me - because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment - and yet - I can't help it - I enjoy every second of it.

Winston Churchill
War, Thinking, Helping
Winston Churchill's letter to a friend, 1916.

We do not war with races primarily as such. Tyranny is our foe. Whatever trapping or disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must for ever be on our guard, ever mobilized, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat. In all this we march together. Not only do we march and strive shoulder to shoulder at this moment, under the fire of the enemy on the fields of war or in the air, but also in those realms of thought which are consecrated to the rights and the dignity of man.

Winston Churchill
Spring, War, Men
Winston Churchill, Robert Rhodes James (1980). “Churchill speaks: Winston S. Churchill in peace and war : collected speeches, 1897-1963”, Atheneum

Good night, then - sleep to gather strength for the morning. For the morning will come. Brightly will it shine on the brave and true, kindly on all who suffer for the cause, glorious upon the tombs of heroes. Thus will shine the dawn.

Winston Churchill
Good Night, Morning, War
Winston Churchill (2012). “Churchill: The Power of Words”, p.363, Da Capo Press

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