“It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”

— Winston S. Churchill , book The Second World War

Speech in the House of Commons, February 27, 1945 "Crimea Conference" http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1945/feb/27/crimea-conference#column_1294; in The Second World War, Volume VI: Triumph and Tragedy (1954), Chapter XXIII – Yalta: Finale.
The Second World War (1939–1945)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Aug. 2, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time." by Winston S. Churchill?

Winston S. Churchill 601

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1874–1965

Related quotes

“We follow the scientists around and look over their shoulders. They're watching their feet: provable mistakes are bad for them. We're looking as far ahead as we can, and we don't get penalized for mistakes.”

Larry Niven (1938) American writer

On the relationship between science and science-fiction.
Space.com interview (2000)

“Suppose that the links in the cordon of civilisation were neutralised by other links in a far more potent chain. The earth is seething with incoherent power and unorganised intelligence.”

John Buchan book The Power-House

Source: The Power-House (1916), Ch. 3 "Tells of a Midsummer Night"
Context: Civilisation knows how to use such powers as it has, while the immense potentiality of the unlicensed is dissipated in vapour. Civilisation wins because it is a world-wide league; its enemies fail because they are parochial. But supposing … supposing anarchy learned from civilisation and became international. Oh, I don't mean the bands of advertising donkeys who call themselves International Unions of Workers and suchlike rubbish. I mean if the real brain-stuff of the world were internationalised. Suppose that the links in the cordon of civilisation were neutralised by other links in a far more potent chain. The earth is seething with incoherent power and unorganised intelligence.

“Political events are always very confused and complicated. They can be compared with a chain. To hold the whole chain you must grasp the main link. Not a link chosen at random.”

Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) Russian politician, led the October Revolution

"Communism and New Economic Policy",(April 1921)
1920s

“The chain of life runs smoothly from one generation to the next and none of the links stand out except here and there a link one sees by accident.”

Clifford D. Simak book Time and Again

Source: Time and Again (1951), Chapter XII (p. 72)

“Supply the link, and earth with Heaven will join
In one continued chain of endless life.”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American author and poet

Poetry quotes, New Thought Pastels (1913)
Context: Between the finite and the infinite
The missing link of Love has left a void.
Supply the link, and earth with Heaven will join
In one continued chain of endless life.

The Way (1913).