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Winston Churchill

A Man Of Many Words

By Cheyenne HarbisonPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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**In honor of Winston Churchill’s first speech as Prime Minister, “Blood, Toil, Tears, And Sweat”, given May 13th, 1940**

Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England on November 30th, 1874. Ninety years later Churchill died nine days after a severe stroke in his London home; he lived a life of many words in the center of WWII but was quoted as saying, “I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.” Aside from his involvement in WWII, he had a loving wife, Clementine Ogilvy Hozier (married in 1908), and has quoted, “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” Together they had five children: Diana, Randolph, Sarah, Marigold (who died as a toddler from tonsillitis), and Mary. Amongst his many achievements in life, he served as Prime Minister two separate terms from 1940-1945 & 1951-1955 and was even knighted in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth II. During his life he wrote and orated many speeches, some of which we will look at in this article; a true inspiration to the world and a man of many words, he remained humble, admitting, “In the course of my life, I have often had to eat my words, and I must confess that I have always found it a wholesome diet.”

Churchill has always been an advocate for individualism evident in his speech, “Penny-In-The-Slot Politics” (May 31st, 1934): “There is one aspect of modern life which has struck me very much lately, and which deserves anxious attention: the elimination of the individual,” and further pointing out that “the power of the machine has grown greater, the power of the man grown less; combinations, organizations of all kinds flourish and increase; individuals sink into insignificance.” He also brings attention to the fact that, “There is a kind of intolerant spirit now abroad which arises out of the growing power of party and other machinery—a spirit which resents individual opinion, which clamours for uniformity and political Test Acts,” while later calling to action that it be combated because, “Nothing would be worse than that independent men should be snuffed out.” He ended his speech by saying, “I believe in personality. But the tragedy of the twentieth century is that the development of human beings lags far behind the growth of their undertakings. We live in an age of great events and little men; and if we are not to become the slaves of our own systems or sink oppressed among the mechanism we have ourselves created, it will only be by the bold efforts of originality, by repeated experiment, by free and continual discussion of all things, and by the dispassionate consideration of the results of sustained and unflinching thought.”

Four years later, October 16th, 1938, Churchill delivered a more severe call to arms speech, “The Lights Are Going Out,” less than a year before what we consider the beginning of WWII. He begins his speech, “I avail myself with relief of the opportunity of speaking to the people of the United States. I do not know how long such liberties will be allowed. The stations of uncensored expression are closing down; the lights are going out; but there is still time for those to whom freedom and parliamentary government mean something, to consult together. Let me, then, speak in truth and earnestness while time remains.” As he speaks to the US, he ends on a note against dictatorship calling it, “the fetish worship of one man” and “a passing phase.” His vivid words depicting a world where “men may not speak their minds, where children denounce their parents to the police, where a business man or small shopkeeper ruins his competitor by telling tales about his private opinions; such a state of society cannot long endure if brought into contact with the healthy outside world.” Ever the humble man he refers to his speech not as a call to arms, but a “sole guarantee of peace” while asking still for the “swift gathering of forces to confront not only military but moral aggression; the resolute and sober acceptance of their duty by the English-speaking peoples and by all the nations, great and small, who wish to walk with them.”

Aside from being humble, Churchill was also a fiercely loyal man who gave his all for his country, and for the US. In his first speech as Prime Minister, “Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat” (May 13th, 1940), he says that he has nothing to offer but what his speech is rightfully titled. He was not a man to back down from the fight when said fight was for keeping his country safe declaring “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,” and kept that same attitude following into his speech, “Do Your Worst: We’ll Do Our Best” (July 14th, 1941), as he reiterated his steadfastness to his cause: “We shall never turn from our purpose, however sombre the road, however grievous the cost, because we know that out of this time of trial and tribulation will be born a new freedom and glory for all mankind.”

Though seeking victory at all costs, he does admit in his speech to Canadian Parliament, “Some Chicken; Some Neck” (December 30th, 1941), that, “We did not make this war, we did not seek it. We did all we could to avoid it. We did too much to avoid it. We went so far at times in trying to avoid it as to be almost destroyed by it when it broke upon us. But that dangerous corner has been turned, and with every month and every year that passes we shall confront the evil-doers with weapons as plentiful, as sharp, and as destructive as those with which they have sought to establish their hateful domination.”

Seventeen years after WWII ended, President John F. Kennedy granted Churchill the honor of US citizenship for his inspiration and involvement with the war. The document credited Churchill for being “a firm and steadfast friend of the American people and the American nation,” acknowledged “his bravery, charity and valour, both in war and in peace,” further calling him “a flame of inspiration in freedom’s darkest hour”. Throughout the years of his life, Churchill was one amazing man who has shown us that “no adversary can overcome, and no feat can deter, free men in the defence of their freedom” and how to make “the past the servant of the future.” The United States, as well as the rest of the world, will forever hold him in high regard as a man of many words and a true source of inspiration. May he continue to rest in peace.

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About the Creator

Cheyenne Harbison

I am 25 years old and living in NC. I've always loved writing about various topics that interest me and sharing with people. For updates on new releases, find me on Instagram at daisydragonflower. Enjoy my work!

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