“We shall never surrender.” When you have nothing left but defiance, commit to it with everything you have. In other words, his plan for success: Complete and total defiance. we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills we shall never surrender.” (Great thanks to the anonymous person who asked about this saying and several other quotations ascribed to Churchill.Churchill’s first speech to the British people as PM laid out his program bluntly, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” He followed that with another speech shortly thereafter: “. Nevertheless, to achieve full accuracy one should cite and use the version from 1940. His statement was altered to yield an arguably improved instance by 1954. In conclusion, Churchill did construct a notably colorful expression with a crocodile when discussing neutral countries in 1940. Alternatively, the statement evolved from the 1940 statement, and the modifiers were anonymous. Churchill lived until 1965, and it was conceivable that he reformulated his earlier remark. QI does not know who constructed this variant. Sir Winston Churchill, Reader’s Digest, December 1954. “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile-hoping it will eat him last.” The memorable saying was placed into a compilation called “Best Quotes of ’54 ’55 ’56”: 1957, Best Quotes of ’54 ’55 ’56, Compiled by James Beasley Simpson, Section: Definitions, Quote, Thomas Y. In 1954 the mass-circulation “Reader’s Digest” printed an instance with the word “appeaser”. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured. (EBSCO Academic Search Premier)Įach one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. 1940 January 29, Time, Volume 35 Issue 5, Invitation to War, Quote, Time Inc., New York. For example, “Time” magazine included the crocodile statement. Parts of Churchill’s speech were reprinted in multiple newspapers and magazines in 1940. Here are additional selected citations in chronological order. This version simplified the text by adding the word “appeaser” and using only one metaphor. The popular modern version mentioned by the questioner was circulating by 1954. Also, it was somewhat clumsy because it employed two figurative frameworks: one based on a ravenous crocodile and another based on a powerful storm. The passage did not use the word “appeaser”. It will rage and it will roar ever more loudly, ever more widely. But I fear greatly that the storm will not pass. (ProQuest)Įach one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. Boldface has been added to excerpts: 1940 January 21, New York Times, Text of Churchill’s Speech on War Prospects, Quote, Column 4, New York. In the following passage Churchill was discussing countries which had remained neutral during the ongoing war. At the time, Churchill was the First Lord of the British Admiralty, and his address was broadcast on BBC radio from London “The New York Times” printed the speech the next day. Quote Investigator: Winston Churchill did use the crocodile metaphor during a speech delivered on January 20, 1940, but the phrasing was different. It supposedly was spoken during World War II, but I have not been able to find a contemporaneous citation. Winston Churchill? Readers Digest? Apocryphal?ĭear Quote Investigator: British leader Winston Churchill has been credited with a crafting a vivid definition for “appeaser” that cleverly employed figurative language:Īn appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last.
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