Clement Attlee Quotations

Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.

One layer was certainly 17th century. The 18th century in him is obvious. There was the 19th century, and a large slice, of course, of the 20th century; and another, curious layer which may possibly have been the 21st.

Russian Communism is the illegitimate child of Karl Marx and Catherine the Great.

I just love Chinese food. My favourite dish is number 27

I think the British have the distinction above all other nations of being able to put new wine into old bottles without bursting them.

The House of Lords is like a glass of champagne that has stood for five days

The last of our enemies is laid low

There is a denial of the value of the individual. Christianity affirms the value of each individual soul. Nazism denies it. The individual is sacrificed to the idol of the German Leader, German State or the German race. The ordinary citizen is allowed to hear and think only as the rulers decree.

The press lives on disaster.

Can't publish. Don't rhyme, don't scan.

Fifty percent of Winston is genius, fifty percent bloody fool. He will behave like a child.

A period of silence on your part would be appreciated.

I am a diffident man. I find it hard to carry on a conversation.

Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress.

It is dangerous to play politics with the Budget.

A Tory minister can sleep in ten different women's beds in a week. A Labour minister gets it in the neck if he looks at his neighbour's wife over the garden fence.

Why does Mosley always speak as though he were a feudal landlord abusing tenants who are in arrears with their rent ?

I am pleased to see from the laughter on the Ministerial benches that there is no implication on their part to take Sir Oswald Mosley too seriously. It can easily be seen to-day that this idea of a dictator is gradually falling down.

The real test of one's belief in the doctrine of Habeas Corpus is not when one demands its application on behalf of one's friends but of one's enemies.

Not Churchill. Sixty-five, old for a Churchill.

In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave our destinies in the hands of failures.

An empty taxi drew up outside 10 Downing Street and Clement Attlee got out of it.

It's nice to keep in touch - besides, it's the only place in London where you can park a car.

the Peace Treaties must be scrapped ... I stand for no more war and no more secret diplomacy.

I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.

Winston Churchill - fifty per cent genius, fifty per cent bloody fool.

If the money wasted on arms could be used to help the less developed nations, that would probably be a greater blow against the Communist danger than anything else.

When we are returned to power we want to put in the statute book an act which will make our people citizens of the world before they are citizens of this country.

We have absolutely abandoned any idea of nationalist loyalty. We are deliberately putting a world order before our loyalty to our own country.

A lot of clever people have got everything except judgement

You will be judged by what you succeed at gentlemen, not by what you attempt

I believe that the foundation of democratic liberty is a willingness to believe that other people may perhaps be wiser than oneself.

No social system will bring us happiness, health and prosperity unless it is inspired by something greater than materialism.

If you begin to consider yourself solely responsible to a political party, you're half-way to a dictatorship.

Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.