Top 18 Quotes & Sayings by Ernest Bevin

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a British public servant Ernest Bevin.

Last updated on December 25, 2024.

Ernest Bevin was a British statesman, trade union leader, and Labour politician. He co-founded and served as General Secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union in the years 1922–1940, and served as Minister of Labour and National Service in the war-time coalition government. He succeeded in maximising the British labour supply, for both the armed services and domestic industrial production, with a minimum of strikes and disruption.

British - Public Servant | March 9, 1881 - April 14, 1951

Source: Wikipedia

The most conservative man in this world is the British trade unionist when you want to change him.

Ernest Bevin

There never has been a war yet which, if the facts had been put calmly before the ordinary folk, could not have been prevented. The common man, I think, is the great protection against war.

Ernest Bevin

Unintelligent people always look for a scapegoat.

Ernest Bevin

It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it was beyond our belief.

Ernest Bevin

If you let that sort of thing go on, your bread and butter will be cut right out from under your feet.

Ernest Bevin

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

Ernest Bevin

There should be a study of a house directly elected by the people of the world to whom the nations are accountable.

Ernest Bevin

If you open that Pandora's Box you never know what Trojan 'orses will jump out.

Ernest Bevin

There has been great excitement at the prospect that this atomic bomb or atomic energy is likely to produce great industrial energy very quickly, I do not believe it at all.

Ernest Bevin

There never has been a war yet which, if the facts had been put calmly before the ordinary folk, could not have been prevented ... The common man, I think, is the great protection against war.

Ernest Bevin

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

It is placing the Executive and the Movement in an absolutely wrong position to be taking your conscience round from body to body asking to be told what you ought to do with it.

Ernest Bevin

The first thing to decide before you walk into any negotiation is what to do if the other fellow says 'no'.

Ernest Bevin

Foreign policy isn't something that is great and big, it's common sense and humanity as it applies to my affairs and yours.

Ernest Bevin

Civilisation cannot survive if it rests on a propertyless proletariat.

Ernest Bevin

Ernest Bevin had many of the strongest characteristics of the English race. His manliness, his common sense, his rough simplicity, sturdiness and kind heart, easy geniality and generosity, all are qualities which we who live in the southern part of this famous island regard with admiration.

Ernest Bevin