Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.
Biography
About Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War (1940–1945) and again from 1951–1955. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders in history, he rallied Britain against Nazi Germany at its most isolated moment with speeches that defined the era. He was also a prolific author, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his historical writings, including the six-volume The Second World War.
Churchill's career was marked by spectacular failures — including the Gallipoli disaster in WWI — and remarkable recoveries, making his life one of the 20th century's most compelling examples of persistence. Note: Churchill is among the most misquoted figures in history; many popular quotes attributed to him cannot be verified in his documented writings.
Key Themes
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1874
- Died
- 1965
- Lifespan
- 91 yrs
- Quotes
- 3 collected
Wisdom
Winston Churchill's Famous Quotes
“Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
— Address at Harrow School ("Never Give In"), 1941
Churchill visited Harrow School — where he had been a struggling student 50 years earlier — and delivered this address to boys who were growing up under German bombing. He was correcting the popular misquotation that strips away all qualification: his original command was not absolute stubbornness but the refusal to capitulate except where honour and reason require it. The distinction matters enormously in statecraft.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
— Speech at Harvard University ("The Price of Greatness"), 1943
Churchill delivered this at Harvard while accepting an honorary degree, in the middle of the Second World War. He used it to argue that great power obligates great action — that nations and individuals who hold more influence bear a proportional duty to deploy it wisely. It is his counterargument to isolationism: you cannot escape responsibility by refusing to acknowledge the power you already have.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
— House of Commons speech, 1925
Churchill said this during a debate on Britain''s changing postwar role in the world. It reflects his view that fixed doctrine is the enemy of effective governance — a conviction he lived out by crossing party lines multiple times in his career and reversing positions on tariffs, India, and Germany as facts changed. He considered intellectual rigidity a form of cowardice masquerading as principle.
From the Blog
Related Reading
Discover
More Thought Leaders
Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War (1940–1945) and again from 1951–1955. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders in history, he rallied Britain against Nazi Germany at its most isolated moment with speeches that defined the era. He was also a prolific author, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his historical writings, including the six-volume The Second World War. Churchill's career was marked by spectacular failures — including the Gallipoli disaster in WWI — and remarkable recoveries, making his life one of the 20th century's most compelling examples of persistence. Note: Churchill is among the most misquoted figures in history; many popular quotes attributed to him cannot be verified in his documented writings. Winston Churchill lived 1874 – 1965.
Morning Practice
Continue Your Daily Reflection
Daily faith-based affirmations and quotes from inspiring thinkers like Winston Churchill.
Free access. New quotes & reflections every day.