World War Quotes

Four or five millions of men met each other in the first shock of the most merciless of all the wars of which record has been kept.

Twice in my lifetime the long arm of destiny has reached across the oceans and involved the entire life and manhood of the United States in a deadly struggle.There was no use in saying We don't want it; we won.

These cruel, wanton, indiscriminate bombings of London are, of course, a part of Hitler's invasion plans. He hopes, by killing large numbers of civilians, and women and children, that he will terrorise and cow the people of this mighty imperial city ... Little does he know the spirit of the British nation, or the tough fibre of the Londoners.

Singapore could only be taken after a siege by an army of at least 50,000 men. It is not considered possible that the Japanese would embark on such a mad enterprise.

And what a plan! This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever occurred.

We have a very daring and skillful opponent against us, and, may I say across the havoc of war, a great general.

We must be very careful not to assign this deliverance the attributes of a victory.

Before America entered the war [WW2] I knew we could not win it, but after she entered I knew we could not lose

The V sign is the symbol of the unconquerable will of the occupied territories, and a portent of the fate awaiting the Nazi tyranny.

I never slept as soundly as the night following Pearl Harbor. For I knew that The American Race would now be entering the war and it would never be the same.

I have never accepted what many people have kindly said - namely that I inspired the nation. Their will was resolute and remorseless, and as it proved, unconquerable. It fell to me to express it.

You ask what the aim is? I tell you it is victory - total victory.

The whole of northern Norway was covered with snow to depths which none of our soldiers had ever seen, felt, or imagined. There were neither snow-shoes nor skis - still less skiers. We must do our best. Thus began this ramshackle campaign.

He sees with amazement that our defeats are but the stepping stones to victory and that all his victories are stepping stones to ruin. It was apparent to me that this bad man saw quite clearly the shadow of slowly and remorselessly approaching doom, and he railed at fortune for mocking him with the glitter of fleeting success.

The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril.

We are plunged in a long and grievous struggle. But all will come right if we all work together to the end.

Everything trends towards catastrophe & collapse. I am interested, geared up & happy. Is it not horrible to be built like that?

Renown awaits the commander who first restores artillery to its prime importance on the battlefield.

If the British Empire is fated to pass from life into history, we must hope it will not be by the slow process of dispersion and decay, but in some supreme exertion for freedom, for right and for truth.

Gentleman, I am hardening on this enterprise. I repeat, I am now hardening towards this enterprise.