Too many people live too much in the past. The past must be a springboard, not a sofa. Harold MacMillan More Quotes by Harold MacMillan More Quotes From Harold MacMillan No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed. Harold MacMillan love friendship life Most of our people have never had it so good. Harold MacMillan british-history history people It has been said that there is no fool like an old fool, except a young fool. But the young fool has first to grow up to be an old fool to realize what a damn fool he was when he was a young fool. Harold MacMillan fool growing-up firsts The wind of change is blowing through the continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact. Harold MacMillan political change wind It is, of course, a trite observation to say that we live "in a period of transition." Many people have said this at many times. Adam may well have made the remark to Eve on leaving the Garden of Eden. Harold MacMillan garden eden people A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts. Harold MacMillan trust kind men I have learned that in all negotiations nothing matters except the will to reach agreement. Harold MacMillan negotiation agreement matter A Foreign Secretaryand this applies also to a prospective Foreign Secretaryis always faced with this cruel dilemma. Nothing he can say can do very much good, and almost anything he may say may do a great deal of harm. Anything he says that is not obvious is dangerous; whatever is not trite is risky. He is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion. Harold MacMillan cliche forever may History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today. Harold MacMillan sacrifice judging today 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 atheism believe thinking The only quality needed for an MP is the ability to write a good letter. Harold MacMillan mps political writing I was determined that no British government should be brought down by the action of two tarts. Harold MacMillan determined government two I'd like that translated, if I may. Harold MacMillan ifs may Churchill was fundamentally what the English call unstable - by which they mean anybody who has that touch of genius which is inconvenient in normal times. Harold MacMillan genius government mean Jaw-jaw is better than war-war. Harold MacMillan humorous war peace 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 next able party You will find the Americans much as the Greeks found the Romans: great, big, vulgar, bustling people more vigorous than we are and also more idle, with more unspoiled virtues but also more corrupt. Harold MacMillan virtue greek people We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall down for the divine right of experts. Harold MacMillan divine-right kings fall 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 issues government giving Tradition does not mean that the living are dead, it means that the dead are living. Harold MacMillan tradition doe mean
