It is a socialist idea that making profits is a vice; I consider the real vice is making losses.
Winston ChurchillRead
I was only the servant of my country and had I, at any moment, failed to express her unflinching resolve to fight and conquer, I should at once have been rightly cast aside.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker emphasizes the importance of unwavering commitment to their country and the duties of a leader.
Winston Churchill's quote reflects his sense of duty as a leader during tumultuous times. He acknowledges that his role was to embody and represent the strong will and determination of his nation in the face of adversity. Churchill believes that failing to do so would warrant his replacement, highlighting the essential nature of leadership and the expectation of loyalty to one's country and its values.
Themes
LeadershipDutyCountryResolveCommitment
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about national unity, one might quote Churchill to inspire leaders to embody the strength of their people.
More from Winston Churchill
All quotes →The United States is like a gigantic boiler. Once the fire is lit under it, there's no limit to the power it can generate.
Winston ChurchillRead
Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.
Winston ChurchillRead
I will not pretend that if I had to choose between communism and Nazism I would choose communism.
Winston ChurchillRead
Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them.
Winston ChurchillRead
True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.
Winston ChurchillRead
Similar quotes
Women have to be active listeners and interrupters - but when you interrupt, you have to know what you are talking about.
Madeleine AlbrightRead
Leadership is not a basket of tricks or strategies or skills that you pull out. Leadership begins with the quality of the person.
Frances HesselbeinRead
You have to build trust among team members so that people feel free to admit what they don't know, make mistakes, ask for help if they need it, apologize when necessary, and not hold back their opinions.
Patrick LencioniRead
A good commander is benevolent and unconcerned with fame.
Sun TzuRead
There is small risk a general will be regarded with contempt by those he leads, if, whatever he may have to preach, he shows himself best able to perform.
XenophonRead
Others may fashion more smoothly images of bronze (I for one believe it), evoke living faces from marble, plead causes better, trace with a wand the wanderings of the heavens and foretell the rising of stars. But you, Roman, remember to rule the peoples with power (these will be your arts); impose the habit of peace, spare the vanquished and war down the proud!
VirgilRead