Quote: Winston Churchill

"Why should I accept from my sovereign the Order of the Garter, when his people have already given me the Order of the Boot?"

-  Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

After having led Britain through 6 years of war, the first two years as First Lord of the Admiralty and the following four years as Prime Minister, it was surprising that Winston Chuchill and the Conservatives were not returned to government in the 1945 post war general election.  This was the first general elction to be held since 1935, elections having been suspended during the war years.  The Labour Party, led by Clement Atlee, won by a landslide.  It is generally thought that the population were eager for post-war reform and that they felt that the man who had led Britain in war was not the man to lead the nation in peace.

Perhaps somewhat in sympathy and as a token gesture, King George VI offered Winston Churchill the Order of the Garter. a prestigious honour.  Churchill declined, speaking the words quoted above.

Quotes: Winston Churchill

There are a number of quotations by Winston Churchill which, for some reason unknown to me, all concern his fly being open. Did the man walk around permanently unbuttoned in those PZ (pre-zipper) days inviting comment?

On being told by an MP that his fly was open:

"It is of no account, after all, dead birds do not fall from their nests."

When told by a man in the street that his fly was half open he said

"or perhaps it it is half closed"

then continued walking down the street.

Once, when Churchill was sleeping on a train, a woman came in and noticed his fly was open. She said "Mr, your penis is sticking out!".

Churchill awoke, and answered:

"Madam, don't flatter yourself. It is merely hanging out."

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Transwiki:Winston_Churchill

Winston Churchill

Scheduled to address the nation one day, Winston Churchill, running unusually late, hailed a cabbie in London's West End and ordered him to drive to the BBC as quickly as possible.

"Sorry, sir," the driver replied. "You'll have to find yourself another cab." "And why is that?" Churchill asked. "Ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem, sir," the driver apologetically explained, "but Mr. Churchill is broadcasting at six o'clock and I want to get home in time to hear him."

Churchill, greatly flattered, took a pound note from his wallet and handed it to the cabbie. The man gladly took the tip: "Hop in, sir!" he exclaimed. "The devil with Mr. Churchill!"

Quote: Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”