The Winston Week – #5 – Things I wish he had said

Note: The Winston Week, is an attempt by me to provide comment and the 3-5 best thoughts and links which I have come across during the week. I am an unabashed Churchillian, but will try and keep to the facts. Many times facts are hard to swallow, but in the end, provide nourishment for the soul.

Winston’s contribution to freedom requires that his record always is kept accurate. Not only his deeds and accomplishments but what he said. Churchill publications total about 42, Winston also gave about 2500 documented speeches. His writing included a Nobel prize for his 6-volume memoir of the Second World War.

When the record is not accurate, the meaning and deeds become either infamous or legend. Revisionists begin to pollute accomplishments until they find themselves on the liar’s ash heap of history. That being said, I do wish some of the classic Churchill quotes, that he never said, were quotes he actually did say.

Here are some of my favorites Winston never said:

Smoking cigars are like falling in love; first, you are attracted to its shape; you stay for its flavor; and you must always remember never, never let the flame go out.
Do you have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
If I had a husband like you,’ Nancy Astor said with concentrated scorn, ‘I’d give him poison!’ ‘Mad’m,’ Winston looking her over with a feeble sort of smile, ‘If I had a wife like you I’d take it.’”
You don’t make the poor richer by making the rich poorer. I think I heard Baroness Thatcher say this in a Prime Minister Question Time.

On my office window, I have the following. It is from Darkest Hour:

Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

I’m pretty sure Winston never said that one either. But to me, it encapsulates his life and gives me comfort.

Below are listed my favorite posts for the week

References: RichardLangworth.com

Various internet sites.