Harold MacMillan Quotes - Page 2

Quotes about:

• I am MacWonder one moment and MacBlunder the next.

  Harold MacMillan

  Next, Moments

  13 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Men, Catholic, Challenges

  Alan Watkins, quoting Macmillan, in 'Observer' 22 February 1981.

  7 Copy quote

• I'd like that translated, if I may.

  Harold MacMillan

  May, Ifs

  "Mr Macmillan seeks end to world fear". The Times (p. 12), September 30, 1960.

  21 Copy quote

• It was a storm in a tea cup, but in politics we sail in paper boats.

  Harold MacMillan

  Tea, Storm, Paper

  8 Copy quote

• No man should ever lose sleep over public affairs.

  Harold MacMillan

  Sleep, Men, Affair

  7 Copy quote

• It is the duty of Her Majesty's government neither to flap nor to falter.

  Harold MacMillan

  Government, Majesty, Duty

  9 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Writing, Mps, Political

  20 Copy quote

• If you don't believe in God, all you have to believe in is decency. Decency is very good. Better decent than indecent. But I don't think it's enough.

  Harold MacMillan

  Believe, Thinking, Atheism

  24 Copy quote

• When the curtain falls, the best thing an actor can do is to go away.

  Harold MacMillan

  Fall, Going Away, Actors

  12 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Ignored, Good Things, Laughed

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

  10 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Fool, Said, Has Beens

  9 Copy quote

• After long experience of politics, I have never found that there is any inhibition caused by ignorance as regards criticism.

  Harold MacMillan

  Ignorance, Long, Political

  Hansard 11 July 1963, col. 1411

  7 Copy quote

• 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.

  Harold MacMillan

  Party, Able, Next

  9 Copy quote

• 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.

  Harold MacMillan

  Past, Done, Majesty

  4 Copy quote

• Britain's most useful role is somewhere between bee and dinosaur.

  Harold MacMillan

  Roles, Dinosaurs, Bees

  9 Copy quote

• There might be 1 finger on the trigger, but there will be 15 fingers on the safety catch.

  Harold MacMillan

  Safety, Might, Triggers

  8 Copy quote

• You can hardly say boo to a goose in the House of Commons now without cries of "Ungentlemanly," "Not fair" and all the rest.

  Harold MacMillan

  House, Politics, Cry

  7 Copy quote

• Although I am still in favour of a National Government in these difficult times, and shall probably be found in the great majority of cases in the Government Lobby, there are some issues that have arisen, or are likely to arise, upon which I am unable to give the Government the support which it has, perhaps, the right to expect from those receiving the Government Whip. It occurs to me, therefore, that it would perhaps be more satisfactory if I was no longer regarded as being among the supporters of the present Administration.

  Harold MacMillan

  Government, Issues, Giving

  "Mr H. Macmillan M.P". Harold MacMillan's letter written on June 29, 1936 resigning the Government whip, "The Times" (p. 8), July 8, 1936.

  11 Copy quote

• I read a great number of press reports and find comfort in the fact that they are nearly always conflicting.

  Harold MacMillan

  Numbers, Comfort, Facts

  6 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Mean, Issues, Political

  4 Copy quote

• 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.

  Harold MacMillan

  Fall, Play, Mute

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

  7 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Feelings, Brotherly, Shows

  7 Copy quote

• We do not intend to part from the Americans and we do not intend to be satellites. I am sure they do not want us to be so. The stronger we are, the better partners we shall be; and I feel certain that as the months pass we shall draw continually closer together with mutual confidence and respect.

  Harold MacMillan

  Together, Stronger, Want

  First broadcast to the nation as prime minister, London, January 17, 1957.

  7 Copy quote

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

  Harold MacMillan

  Hug, Bears

  7 Copy quote

• It's no use crying over spilt summits.

  Harold MacMillan

  Use, Cry, Summit

  7 Copy quote

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