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Deep Quotes — 126 Deep Quotes, Each Checked to Its Source

Deep quotes that stay with you, on destiny, the human story and the questions under the day, from Marcus Aurelius and Pascal to Churchill and Einstein, each checked to its source.

Such is the U-boat war—hard, widespread and bitter, a war of groping and drowning, a war of ambuscade and stratagem, a war of science and seamanship.

Winston Churchill · House of Commons, 26 September 1939

Into that void after a pause there strode a maniac of ferocious genius, the repository and expression of the most virulent hatreds that have ever corroded the human breast—Corporal Hitler.

Winston Churchill · The source reads: “After the end of the World War of 1914 there was a deep conviction and almost universal hope that peace would reign in the world.…The phrase “the war to end war,” was on every lip, and measures had been taken to turn it into reality.…Instead, a gaping void was opened in the national life of the German people…and into that void after a pause there strode a maniac of ferocious genius, the repository and expression of the most virulent hatreds that have ever corroded the human breast—Corporal Hitler.” · The Second World War, vol. I, The Gathering Storm (1948)

Some people assume too readily that, because a Government keeps cool and has steady nerves under reverses, its members do not feel the public misfortunes as keenly as do independent critics. On the contrary, I doubt whether anyone feels greater sorrow or pain than those who are responsible for the general conduct of our affairs.

Winston Churchill · House of Commons, 2 July 1942

There is a hush hanging over Europe, nay, over all the world. What kind of a hush is it? Alas! it is the hush of suspense, and in many lands it is the hush of fear.

Winston Churchill · Broadcast to America, London, 8 August 1939

To be so entirely convinced and vindicated in a matter of life and death to one’s country, and not to be able to make Parliament and the nation heed the warning, or bow to the proof by taking action, was an experience most painful.

Winston Churchill · The Second World War, vol. I, The Gathering Storm (1948), 19 March 1935

Fancy living in one of those streets—never seeing anything beautiful—never eating anything savoury—never saying anything clever!

Winston Churchill · Walking through a poor district of Manchester, 1906

It is, I believe, an historical fact that the revolt of a great population has never been caused solely or even mainly by religious enthusiasm.

Winston Churchill · The River War (1899)

In the strong stream of war the swimmer is swirled helplessly about hither and thither by the waves, and he can by no means tell where he will come to land, or, indeed, that he may not be overwhelmed in the flood.

Winston Churchill · Pretoria, 20 November 1899

But nothing daunted the valiant heart of man. Son of the Stone Age, vanquisher of nature with all her trials and monsters, he met the awful and self-inflicted agony with new reserves of fortitude.

Winston Churchill · The World Crisis (1923 to 1931)

Everywhere the manufacture of munitions proceeds apace, and science burrows its insulted head in the filth of slaughterous inventions.

Winston Churchill · Article “Enemies to the Left”, Evening Standard, 4 September 1936

All is over. Silent, mournful, abandoned, broken, Czechoslovakia recedes into the darkness.

Winston Churchill · House of Commons, 5 October 1938

A voice had become audible, a note had been struck, more true, more thrilling, more able to do justice to the nobility of our youth in arms engaged in this present war, than any other. The voice has been swiftly stilled. Only the echoes and the memory remain; but they will linger.

Winston Churchill · Article “Rupert Brooke”, The Times, 26 April 1915

When great causes are on the move in the world, stirring all men’s souls, drawing them from their firesides, casting aside comfort, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness in response to impulses at once awe-striking and irresistible, we learn that we are spirits, not animals.

Winston Churchill · Broadcast, London, 16 June 1941

Ah, horrible war, amazing medley of the glorious and the squalid, the pitiful and the sublime, if modern men of light and leading saw your face closer, simple folk would see it hardly ever.

Winston Churchill · London to Ladysmith via Pretoria (1900), 22 January 1900

During these last months the King walked with death, as if death were a companion, an acquaintance, whom he recognized and did not fear. In the end death came as a friend.

Winston Churchill · Broadcast, London, 7 February 1952

Just as an aeroplane only flies by its speed and pressure against the air, so he flew best and easiest in the hurricane. He was not in complete harmony with the normal.

Winston Churchill · Article “Lawrence Ofarabia’s Name Will Live!”, News of the World, 26 May 1935

“Not in vain” may be the pride of those who have survived and the epitaph of those who fell.

Winston Churchill · House of Commons, 28 September 1944

Very beautiful and splendid she looked. Since the morning with its pangs, thirty years had fallen from her brow.

Winston Churchill · Recorded in the official biography by Randolph Churchill and Martin Gilbert, 1 July 1921

It does not matter so much to old people; they are going soon anyway; but I find it poignant to look at youth in all its activity and ardour and, most of all, to watch little children playing their merry games, and wonder what would lie before them if God wearied of mankind.

Winston Churchill · Speech, 1 March 1955

There is more blood than paint upon these hands. All those thousands of men killed. We thought it would be a little job, and so it might have been if it had been begun in the right way.

Winston Churchill · Hoe Farm, Godalming, Surrey, July 1915

We were the aggressors; we it is who have forced the conflict by an unprovoked assault with murderous intent upon a peaceful herbivore; that if there is such a thing as right and wrong between man and beast— and who shall say there is not?—right is plainly on his side.

Winston Churchill · My African Journey (1908)

Justice is cast from her seat. The rights of the weak are trampled down. The whole stature of man, his genius, his initiative and his nobility, is ground down under systems of mechanical barbarism and of organised and scheduled terror.

Winston Churchill · Broadcast, London, 16 June 1941

Nothing was wasted that could contribute to the process of waste.

Winston Churchill · The World Crisis (1923 to 1931)

After all, a man’s Life must be nailed to a cross of either Thought or Action.

Winston Churchill · My Early Life (1930)

Deep Quotes

Such is the U-boat war—hard, widespread and bitter, a war of groping and drowning, a war of ambuscade and stratagem, a war of science and seamanship.

Into that void after a pause there strode a maniac of ferocious genius, the repository and expression of the most virulent hatreds that have ever corroded the human breast—Corporal Hitler.

There is a hush hanging over Europe, nay, over all the world. What kind of a hush is it? Alas! it is the hush of suspense, and in many lands it is the hush of fear.

To be so entirely convinced and vindicated in a matter of life and death to one’s country, and not to be able to make Parliament and the nation heed the warning, or bow to the proof by taking action, was an experience most painful.

Fancy living in one of those streets—never seeing anything beautiful—never eating anything savoury—never saying anything clever!

It is, I believe, an historical fact that the revolt of a great population has never been caused solely or even mainly by religious enthusiasm.

In the strong stream of war the swimmer is swirled helplessly about hither and thither by the waves, and he can by no means tell where he will come to land, or, indeed, that he may not be overwhelmed in the flood.

But nothing daunted the valiant heart of man. Son of the Stone Age, vanquisher of nature with all her trials and monsters, he met the awful and self-inflicted agony with new reserves of fortitude.

Everywhere the manufacture of munitions proceeds apace, and science burrows its insulted head in the filth of slaughterous inventions.

All is over. Silent, mournful, abandoned, broken, Czechoslovakia recedes into the darkness.

A voice had become audible, a note had been struck, more true, more thrilling, more able to do justice to the nobility of our youth in arms engaged in this present war, than any other. The voice has been swiftly stilled. Only the echoes and the memory remain; but they will linger.

When great causes are on the move in the world, stirring all men’s souls, drawing them from their firesides, casting aside comfort, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness in response to impulses at once awe-striking and irresistible, we learn that we are spirits, not animals.

Ah, horrible war, amazing medley of the glorious and the squalid, the pitiful and the sublime, if modern men of light and leading saw your face closer, simple folk would see it hardly ever.

During these last months the King walked with death, as if death were a companion, an acquaintance, whom he recognized and did not fear. In the end death came as a friend.

Just as an aeroplane only flies by its speed and pressure against the air, so he flew best and easiest in the hurricane. He was not in complete harmony with the normal.

“Not in vain” may be the pride of those who have survived and the epitaph of those who fell.

Very beautiful and splendid she looked. Since the morning with its pangs, thirty years had fallen from her brow.

It does not matter so much to old people; they are going soon anyway; but I find it poignant to look at youth in all its activity and ardour and, most of all, to watch little children playing their merry games, and wonder what would lie before them if God wearied of mankind.

There is more blood than paint upon these hands. All those thousands of men killed. We thought it would be a little job, and so it might have been if it had been begun in the right way.

We were the aggressors; we it is who have forced the conflict by an unprovoked assault with murderous intent upon a peaceful herbivore; that if there is such a thing as right and wrong between man and beast— and who shall say there is not?—right is plainly on his side.

Justice is cast from her seat. The rights of the weak are trampled down. The whole stature of man, his genius, his initiative and his nobility, is ground down under systems of mechanical barbarism and of organised and scheduled terror.

Nothing was wasted that could contribute to the process of waste.

After all, a man’s Life must be nailed to a cross of either Thought or Action.

Frequently asked questions

We Value Your Opinion Comments

Deep Quotes

“Such is the U-boat war—hard, widespread and bitter, a war of groping and drowning, a war of ambuscade and stratagem, a war of science and seamanship.”

“There is a hush hanging over Europe, nay, over all the world. What kind of a hush is it? Alas! it is the hush of suspense, and in many lands it is the hush of fear.”

“To be so entirely convinced and vindicated in a matter of life and death to one’s country, and not to be able to make Parliament and the nation heed the warning, or bow to the proof by taking action, was an experience most painful.”

“When great causes are on the move in the world, stirring all men’s souls, drawing them from their firesides, casting aside comfort, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness in response to impulses at once awe-striking and irresistible, we learn that we are spirits, not animals.”

“Very beautiful and splendid she looked. Since the morning with its pangs, thirty years had fallen from her brow.”

“There is more blood than paint upon these hands. All those thousands of men killed. We thought it would be a little job, and so it might have been if it had been begun in the right way.”

“We were the aggressors; we it is who have forced the conflict by an unprovoked assault with murderous intent upon a peaceful herbivore; that if there is such a thing as right and wrong between man and beast— and who shall say there is not?—right is plainly on his side.”

Frequently asked questions

We Value Your Opinion Comments

Such is the U-boat war—hard, widespread and bitter, a war of groping and drowning, a war of ambuscade and stratagem, a war of science and seamanship.

There is a hush hanging over Europe, nay, over all the world. What kind of a hush is it? Alas! it is the hush of suspense, and in many lands it is the hush of fear.

To be so entirely convinced and vindicated in a matter of life and death to one’s country, and not to be able to make Parliament and the nation heed the warning, or bow to the proof by taking action, was an experience most painful.

When great causes are on the move in the world, stirring all men’s souls, drawing them from their firesides, casting aside comfort, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness in response to impulses at once awe-striking and irresistible, we learn that we are spirits, not animals.

Very beautiful and splendid she looked. Since the morning with its pangs, thirty years had fallen from her brow.

There is more blood than paint upon these hands. All those thousands of men killed. We thought it would be a little job, and so it might have been if it had been begun in the right way.

We were the aggressors; we it is who have forced the conflict by an unprovoked assault with murderous intent upon a peaceful herbivore; that if there is such a thing as right and wrong between man and beast— and who shall say there is not?—right is plainly on his side.