We will mete out to the Germans the measure and more than the measure that they have meted out to us. We will have no truce or parley with you, or the grisly gang who work your wicked will. You do your worst and we will do our best.

We shall go forward together. The road upwards is stony. There are upon our journey dark and dangerous valleys through which we have to make and fight our way. But it is sure and certain that if we persevere – and we shall persevere – we shall come through these dark and dangerous valleys into a sunlight broader and more genial and more lasting than mankind has ever known.

God alone knows how great it is. All I hope is that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it is. We can only do our best.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Here life itself, life at its best and healthiest, awaits the caprice of the bullet. Let us see the development of the day. All else may stand over, perhaps for ever. Existence is never so sweet as when it is at hazard.

I feel like an aeroplane at the end of its flight, in the dusk, with the petrol running out, in search of a safe landing.

If I stay on for the time being, bearing the burden at my age, it is not because of love for power or office. I have had an ample share of both. If I stay it is because I have a feeling that I may, through things that have happened, have an influence about what I care about above all else, the building of a sure and lasting peace.

... [F]iring got so hot that my grey pony was unsafe ... I remained till the last and here I was perhaps very near my end ... I was close to both officers when they were hit almost simultaneously and fired my revolver at a man at 30 yards who tried to cut up Poor Hughes' body. He dropped but came on again. A subaltern -Bethune by name and I carried awounded sepoy for some distance and might perhaps, had there been any gallery, have received some notice. My pants are still stained with the mans blood... I felt no excitement and very little fear. All the excitement went out when things became really deadly ... I rode on my grey pony all along the skirmish line where everyone else was lying down in cover. Foolish perhaps - but I play for high stakes and givenan audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.

If you’re going through hell, keep going.