Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. — Speech in the House of Commons (1947-11-11)

My Take – The founders didn’t say “In order to form a perfect union”, they said “In order to form a more perfect union”.  Our system of government is flawed, and has been since day one.  The same can be said of all of the liberal democracies.  The difference between tyranny and our form of democracy is that we are willing to admit that we’re not perfect and are willing to find ways to improve without compromising our founding principles.  No, I don’t believe that the Constitution is a ‘living document’, but I do believe that if something about the way we’re doing business needs to change, then we have to have the intestinal fortitude to either find a way to change and still stay within Constitutional restraints or change the Constitution through the method described in the document so that we can continue to improve.

To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war. — Remarks at a White House luncheon (June 26, 1954)

My Take – I tend to agree, but only so long as jawing isn’t used as a cover to have more time to do the things that are causing the necessity for war.  Serbia, Iraq, Korea, and Iran, I’m looking at you.

What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? — Speech at Kinnaird Hall, Dundee, Scotland (“Unemployment”), October 10, 1908

My Take – We are here to provide for the next generation, both that they may survive to replace us and so that they have a good life when we are gone.  I refuse to believe the “first generation to not do better than their parents” crap.  I am doing better than my parents did, and I will be damned if my children will settle for a lesser life than I have led.  I can’t control what happens to them in regards to material wealth, but I can raise my sons and daughters to be better people than I am.

We are waiting for the long-promised invasion. So are the fishes. — Radio broadcast, London, October 21, 1940

My Take – A little smack talking, every so often, is a good thing.

The salvation of the common people of every race and of every land from war or servitude must be established on solid foundations and must be guarded by the readiness of all men and women to die rather than submit to tyranny. — Speech at Zurich University (September 19, 1946)

Some people did not like this ceremonious style. But after all when you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite. — The Second World War, Volume III : The Grand Alliance (1950)

My Take – I’ve always said it’s a sign of good upbringing when someone is polite and friendly to someone they have no reason to be polite and friendly with.  Especially if you have to do something unpleasant to them.  I guess that’s why I don’t approve of police who aren’t professional.  The guy’s already going to jail or getting a ticket.  If they’re not being jerks themselves, why act like a jerk?

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. — speech at Fulton, Missouri on March 5, 1946

I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: ‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.’ We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. — Speech in the House of Commons, after taking office as Prime Minister (13 May 1940)

The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences. — Speech in the House of Commons, November 12, 1936

My Take:

I may be cynical, but every election that’s occurred in my adult life has been the “most important election in our history”, so I won’t say that November 2012 will be THE tipping point in American politics where we have to choose between soaring towards ever higher heights or going down the path to historical oblivion.

But I will say that the time for going along to get along, of compromising our principles, and deferring to the hooting mob of either side of the political spectrum has been over for a long time.  It’s time we stood up, set our minds to the task, and got on with the business of being citizens instead of residents or dependents.  No matter who you support, you need to get up off the couch, find a way to help your cause, and be counted among those who will not let our history be written by those who take us for granted.

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter.  — My Early Life, A Roving Commission (1930)