John Burns's Quotes

John Elliot Burns (20 October 1858 – 24 January 1943) was an English trade unionist and politician, particularly associated with London politics and Battersea. He was a socialist and then a Liberal Member of Parliament and Minister. He was anti-alcohol and a keen sportsman. After retiring from politics, he developed an expertise in London history and coined the phrase “The Thames is liquid history”. When the Liberal cabinet made a decision for war on 2 August 1914, he resigned and played no further role in politics.

John Burns's selected quotes:

John Burns about Goal:

I must firmly adhere to the views I have held and practice, that Socialism to succeed ...
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John Burns about Greatest:

The Gentlemen of England serve under the greatest cad in Europe.

John Burns about Believe:

I believe, however, that impending events will call us and we must respond but where, with ...
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John Burns about Work:

In this work I have received the opposition of a number of men who only advocate ...
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John Burns about Great:

Why four great powers should fight over Serbia no fellow can understand.

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John Elliot Burns (20 October 1858 – 24 January 1943) was an English trade unionist and politician, particularly united with London politics and Battersea. He was a socialist and after that a Liberal Member of Parliament and Minister. He was anti-alcohol and a fervent sportsman. After retiring from politics, he developed an feat in London chronicles and coined the phrase “The Thames is liquid history”. When the Liberal cabinet made a decision for war upon 2 August 1914, he resigned and played no new role in politics.

All quotes from John Burns sorted alphabetically:

John Burns about Good:

Books are a real solace, friendships are good but action is better than all.

John Burns about I Am:

I am depressed rather at the wave of brutality sweeping over the country.

John Burns about Time:

For the moment and for some time great events have been denied me, forward action not come my way.

John Burns about Hustle:

Don't hustle old people.

John Burns about Future:

I am only doing now what I have ever done, and ever will continue to do - that is adapting past experience to present reform in the light of high ideals and future objects.

John Burns about Son:

I am not ashamed to say that I am the son of a washerwoman.

John Burns about Writing:

I don't want boys to use their pencils for improper writing.

John Burns about Believe:

I believe, however, that impending events will call us and we must respond but where, with whom, and how?

John Burns about Mind:

I neither drink nor smoke, because my schoolmaster impressed upon me three cardinal virtues, cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind, temperance.

John Burns about Goal:

I must firmly adhere to the views I have held and practice, that Socialism to succeed must be practical, tolerant, cohesive and consciously compromising with Progressive forces running, if not so far, in parallel lines towards its own goal.

John Burns about Work:

In this work I have received the opposition of a number of men who only advocate the unobtainable because the immediately possible is beyond their moral courage, administrative ability, and their political prescience.

John Burns about Power:

I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is not in their power to help themselves.

John Burns about Socialism:

I recognise that Socialism has ended its purely theoretical course, and that the hour to construct has come.

John Burns about Done:

My duty is clear and at all costs will be done.

John Burns about Progress:

Judge men less by the labels they wear than by their persistent labour for sure if slow progress.

John Burns about Poverty:

Individual effort is almost relatively impossible to cope with the big problem of poverty as we see it.

John Burns about War:

The men who made the war were profuse in their praises of the man who kicked the P.M. out of his office and now degrades by his disloyal, dishonest and lying presence the greatest office in the State.

John Burns about Greatest:

The Gentlemen of England serve under the greatest cad in Europe.

John Burns about History:

The Thames is liquid history.

John Burns about Morning:

You come before me this morning with clean hands and clean collars. I want you to have clean tongues, clean manners, clean morals and clean characters.

John Burns about Great:

Why four great powers should fight over Serbia no fellow can understand.