Winston Churchill quotes from Darkest Hour (2017)

Winston Churchill

I'm getting the job only because the ship is sinking. It's not a gift, it's revenge.

Winston Churchill

Miss? I'm coming out in a state of nature!

Winston Churchill

Please tell the Privy Seal that I am currently sealed in the privy and I can only deal with one shit at a time.

Winston Churchill

When will the lesson be learned?! When-will-the-lesson-be-learned?! How many more dictators must be wooed, appeased - Good God, given immense privileges! - before we learn?! You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!

Winston Churchill

Nations which go down fighting rise again, and those that surrender tamely are finished.

Winston Churchill

Turning once again to the question of invasion, I would observe that there has never been a period in all these long centuries of which we boast, when an absolute guarantee against invasion could have been given to our people. I have, myself full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny. If necessary, for years. If necessary, alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government, every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end! We shall fight in France, 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. And if - which I do not for a moment believe - this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old!

Winston Churchill

Those who never change their mind never change anything.

You only have to meet him once a week.

Winston Churchill

But that's like saying you only have to have your tooth pulled once a week.

King George VI

I believe we are to meet regularly.

Winston Churchill

Once a week, I'm afraid.

King George VI

How is... How are you for Mondays?

Winston Churchill

Um, I shall endeavor to be available on Mondays.

King George VI

4:00?

Winston Churchill

I nap at 4:00.

King George VI

Is that permissible?

Winston Churchill

No. But necessary. I work late.

Are we terribly old?

Winston Churchill

Yes, I'm afraid you are.

Oh, you beast!
[They laugh.]

Winston Churchill

Do I have your, uh, permission, uh, to send, uh, an aircraft carrier to pick up the P-40 fighter planes we purchased from you? Mr. President?

Well, you-you've got me there again. New law preventing transshipment of military equipment.

Winston Churchill

Uh, but we paid for them. We-we paid for them with the money that we... that we borrowed from you.

Halifax

I will not stand by and watch another generation of young men die at the bloody altar of your hubris!

Winston Churchill

No, you would have us die as lambs!

Viscount Halifax

Was Gallipoli not enough for you?

Winston Churchill

HOW DARE YOU! Our troops were chewing barbed wire in Flanders and I saw it! Opening a second front, outflanking the Turks was a serious military idea and it could have damn well worked if the Admirals and the First Sea Lord hadn't dithered away the element of surprise!

King George VI

How do you manage drinking during the day?

Winston Churchill

Practice.

Winston Churchill

What utter nonsense. Look at me. What could possibly be scary about me?

King George VI

One never knows what's going to come out of your mouth next. Something that'll flatter, something that'll wound.

Winston Churchill

My emotions are unbridled. A wildness in the blood I share with my father. And my mother also. We lack the gift of temperance.

King George VI

Were you close to your parents?

Winston Churchill

My mother was glamorous... but perhaps too widely-loved. My father was... like God. Busy elsewhere.

Winston Churchill

The German army controls every French port except Dunkirk here and Calais here to the west, where the garrison under Brigadier Nicholson is drawing fire and delaying the German advance on Dunkirk. At both points, our troops are encircled. Now, we are still trying to clear Dunkirk Harbor of wrecked ships so that we can then land the boats we need to get our-our boys off those beaches. But enemy aircraft is attacking us constantly. Our... our only hope in Dunkirk is thick cloud cover to thwart these attacks, but the skies remain clear. And even then, I am told we still need a-a-a miracle to get even 10% of our men out. Courage, Miss Layton. Courage. [to a passing officer] General.

How... how long have they got... if we don't rescue them?

Winston Churchill

One, maybe... two days.

Come to bed, Pug. You've got to sleep.

Winston Churchill

Leave me, Clemmie.

Yes, well, my opportunity to do that passed a long time ago.

Now, get up. You have a visitor.

Winston Churchill

Who?

The King.

Winston Churchill

Which king? Ours?

Well, if it isn't him, it's a marvelous impersonation.

King George VI

And you? Are you not afraid?

Winston Churchill

I am, most terribly.

King George VI

You have my support.

Winston Churchill

...Your Majesty?

King George VI

You have my support. I confess I had some reservations about you at first. But while some in this country dreaded your appointment, none - none - dreaded it like Adolf Hitler. Whomever can strike fear into that brute heart is worthy of all of our trust. We shall work together, you and I. You shall have my support, at any hour. Beat the buggers.

Winston Churchill

On certain matters I have very few people with whom I can... talk frankly.

King George VI

Perhaps now we have each other.

Winston Churchill

And I no longer scare you?

King George VI

A little. But I can cope.