The most conservative man in this world is the British trade unionist when you want to change him.

What astounds me about the history of the British Navy is how cheaply we have policed the world for 300 years.

Civilisation cannot survive if it rests on a propertyless proletariat.

It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it was beyond our belief.

There has been great excitement at the prospect that this atomic bomb or atomic energy is likely to produce great industrial energy very quickly, I do not believe it at all.

There never has been a war yet which, if the facts had been put calmly before the ordinary folk, could not have been prevented ... The common man, I think, is the great protection against war.

If the workers see themselves faced with defeat through starvation, they will prefer to go down fighting rather than fainting - and whether or not we leaders agree.