100+ Harold MacMillan Quotes | InspiringQuotes.us

source: - "Will Trump's presidency finally kill the myth of the special relationship?" by Geoffrey Wheatcroft, www.theguardian.com. February 14, 2017.

Topics: People, Greek, Virtue, Vigorous

Most of our people have never had it so good.

source: - Speech, Bedford, England, 20 July 1957.

Topics: People, History, British History

History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.

Topics: Sacrifice, Judging, Today

We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall down for the divine right of experts.

source: - 1950 Speech, Strasbourg,16 Aug.

Topics: Kings, Fall, Experts, Divine Right, Divine Right Of Kings

Marxism is like a classical building that followed the Renaissance; beautiful in its way, but incapable of growth.

Topics: Beautiful, Growth, Renaissance

The wind of change is blowing through the continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.

source: - "Mr Macmillan's appeal to South Africans". Harold MacMillan's speech to the South African Parliament, "The Times" (p. 15), February 4, 1960.

Topics: Change, Wind, Political, Winds Of Change

Tradition does not mean that the living are dead, it means that the dead are living.

source: - 1963 In theManchester Guardian, 18 Dec.

Topics: Mean, Doe, Tradition

One nanny said, "Feed a cold"; she was a neo-Keynesian. Another nanny said, "Starve a cold"; she was a monetarist.

Topics: Nannies, Cold, Economics

Stop-Go seemed more sensiblr than using the brake and accelerator at the same time - a practice that later became fashionable.

Topics: Practice, Economics, Brake

Jaw-jaw is better than war-war.

source: - "Jaw-jaw is better than war-war" by Richard Norton-Taylor, www.theguardian.com. September 10, 2015.

Topics: War

A successful current affairs television show seems to be more and more a cross between a music hall turn and a scene in a torture chamber.

Topics: Successful, Political, Television, Current Affairs, Music Hall

The only quality needed for an MP is the ability to write a good letter.

Topics: Writing, Mps, Political

Revolt by all means, but only on one issue at a time. To do more would be to confuse the whips.

Topics: Mean, Issues, Political, Whips

There are three bodies no sensible man directly challenges: the Roman Catholic Church, the Brigade of Guards and the National Union of Mineworkers

Topics: Men, Catholic, Challenges, Roman Catholic Church

I was determined that no British government should be brought down by the action of two tarts.

source: - Comment on the Profumo affair, July 1963, in Anthony Sampson 'Macmillan' (1967) p. 243

Topics: Government, Two, Determined, Tarts, British Government

It has been said that there is no fool like an old fool

Topics: Fool, Said

Once the bear's hug has got you, it is apt to be for keeps.

Topics: Hug, Bears

I have learned that in all negotiations nothing matters except the will to reach agreement.

Topics: Agreement, Matter, Negotiation

After a long life I have come to the conclusion that when all the Establishment is united it is always wrong.

Topics: Long, Establishment, Conclusion, Always Wrong

90% of what we did the Press didn't know about, and 90% of what they did know about they got wrong.

Topics: Knows, Presses

We believe that unless we give opportunity to the strong and able, we shall never have the means to provide real protection for the weak and the old.

Topics: Strong, Real, Believe

I have never found criticism is ever inhibited by ignorance.

Topics: Ignorance, Criticism, Found

It is a good thing to be laughed at. It is better than to be ignored.

source: - "It is a good thing to be laughed at". Harold MacMillan's handwritten note to the Postmaster General, www.lettersofnote.com. October 12, 1962.

Topics: Ignored, Good Things, Laughed

I will not be able to carry the physical burden of leading the Party at the next general election. I hope it will soon be possible for the customary processes of consultation to be carried on within the Party about its future leadership.

Topics: Party, Able, Next, Consultation, General Elections

If ever the call comes to them, the young will go straight from the ranks of the neutralists into the ranks of he Majesty's Forces, as they have so often done in the past.

Topics: Past, Done, Majesty

He (Aneurin Bevan) enjoys prophesying the imminent fall of the capitalist system, and is prepared to play a part, any part, in its burial, except that of mute.

source: - In Michael Foot 'Aneurin Bevan' (1962) pt. 1, ch. 5

Topics: Fall, Play, Mute

It isn't those who always addressing each other as comrade who necessarily show the most brotherly feelings.

Topics: Feelings, Brotherly, Shows, Comrade