Ernest Bevin: Going

Ernest Bevin was British labour leader, politician, and statesman. Explore interesting quotes on going.
Ernest Bevin: 34 quotes0 likes

“If the workers see themselves faced with defeat through starvation, they will prefer to go down fighting rather than fainting — and whether or not we leaders agree.”

Ernest Bevin

New York World, 10 May 1926
Message to the American Federation of Labor appealing for help in the General Strike.

“They say Gladstone was at the Treasury from 1860 to 1930. I'm going to be Minister of Labour from 1940 to 1990.”

Ernest Bevin

Remark after being appointed Minister of Labour (c. 13 May 1940), quoted in Francis Williams, Ernest Bevin (London: Hutchinson, 1952), p. 217.

“My policy is to be able to take a ticket at Victoria station and go anywhere I damn well please!”

Ernest Bevin

Attributed to Bevin in the Spectator, 20 April 1951.
Bevin's definition of his foreign policy. Variously quoted as "to be able to buy a ticket at Victoria Station to anywhere I damn please!".

“I think that in the little argument going on now in New York and the differences that have arisen there are emerging three very fundamental principles. One is that it is improper to negotiate or attempt to negotiate or attempt to gain concessions by a great Power out of a little Power by means of occupying that country with your forces. It is the tradition — and I am not saying of one or other country only they have done it — but it is nineteenth-century imperialism that really must be left behind, and I believe that a solution will be found and the principle accepted that those of us who represent the great Powers will not do that.”

Ernest Bevin

"Mr. Bevin on World Politics", The Times, 1 April 1946, p. 4.
Speech at Bristol, 30 March 1946, referring to the negotiations over the United Nations Charter.