Arthur Henderson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Arthur Henderson.

Arthur Henderson (1863-1935) was a British trade unionist and politician who played a significant role in the labor and socialist movements of the early 20th century. Born on September 13, 1863, in Glasgow, Scotland, Henderson began working as an iron shipbuilder before getting involved in the trade union movement. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation in 1889.

In 1903, Henderson joined the newly formed Independent Labour Party (ILP), campaigning for workers' rights, social justice, and international peace. He was elected to the Parliament as the Member for Barnard Castle in 1903 and held various ministerial positions in the Liberal government, including President of the Board of Education.

Henderson gained prominence during World War I when he served as a member of the War Cabinet and was appointed to negotiate the armistice ending the conflict. In 1919, he co-founded the Labour Party, which aimed to represent the interests of the working class and promote socialist policies. He later became the party's Vice-Chair and subsequently the Chairman.

Recognized for his diplomatic skills and commitment to peace, Henderson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 for his efforts in negotiating the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which aimed to outlaw war as an instrument of national policy. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away on October 20, 1935, in London.

Arthur Henderson's contributions to trade unions, the Labour Party, and international peace efforts cemented his place as a respected and influential figure in British politics.

The more the history of the World War and what led up to it

The more the history of the World War and what led up to it is studied, the more clearly those tragic years become revealed as a vast collapse of civilization.

Arthur Henderson


Moreover, war has become a thing potentially so terrible and

Moreover, war has become a thing potentially so terrible and destructive that it should have been the common aim of statesmen to put an end to it forever.

Arthur Henderson

War

The forces that are driving mankind toward unity and peace a

The forces that are driving mankind toward unity and peace are deep-seated and powerful. They are material and natural, as well as moral and intellectual.

Arthur Henderson

Peace

In short, it may be said that on paper the obligations to se

In short, it may be said that on paper the obligations to settle international disputes peacefully are now so comprehensive and far-reaching that it is almost impossible for a state to resort to war without violating one or more solemn treaty obligations.

Arthur Henderson

War

The vast upheaval of the World War set in motion forces that

The vast upheaval of the World War set in motion forces that will either destroy civilization or raise mankind to undreamed of heights of human welfare and prosperity.

Arthur Henderson

War

It has become impossible to give up the enterprise of disarm

It has become impossible to give up the enterprise of disarmament without abandoning the whole great adventure of building up a collective peace system.

Arthur Henderson

Peace

Whatever we do or fail to do will influence the course of hi

Whatever we do or fail to do will influence the course of history.

Arthur Henderson

History

In almost every country there are elements of opinion which

In almost every country there are elements of opinion which would welcome such a conclusion because they wish to return to the politics of the balance of power, unrestricted and unregulated armaments, international anarchy, and preparation for war.

Arthur Henderson

Politics

We had four years of world war which the peoples endured onl

We had four years of world war which the peoples endured only because they were told that their sufferings would free humanity forever from the scourge of war.

Arthur Henderson

War

As a first step there must be an offer to achieve equality o

As a first step there must be an offer to achieve equality of rights in disarmament by abolishing the weapons forbidden to the Central Powers by the Peace Treaties.

Arthur Henderson

Equality

Another essential to a universal and durable peace is social

Another essential to a universal and durable peace is social justice.

Arthur Henderson

Peace

Thus, the struggle for peace includes the struggle for freed

Thus, the struggle for peace includes the struggle for freedom and justice for the masses of all countries.

Arthur Henderson

Freedom

To solve the problem of organizing world peace we must estab

To solve the problem of organizing world peace we must establish world law and order.

Arthur Henderson

Peace

Four years of world war, at a cost in human suffering which

Four years of world war, at a cost in human suffering which our minds are mercifully too limited to imagine, led to the very clear realization that international anarchy must be abandoned if civilization was to survive.

Arthur Henderson

War

On the contrary, the characteristic element of the present s

On the contrary, the characteristic element of the present situation is that economic questions have finally and irrevocably invaded the domain of public life and politics.

Arthur Henderson

Politics

Nothingever happened on this globe, for good, at which some

Nothingever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the onset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have a malady in the less attractive forms.

Charles Dickens

Dad

The first condition of success for the League of Nations is,

The first condition of success for the League of Nations is, therefore, a firm understanding between the British Empire and the United States of America and France and Italy that there will be no competitive building up of fleets or armies between them.

Arthur Henderson

Success

In some states militant nationalism has gone to the lengths

In some states militant nationalism has gone to the lengths of dictatorship, the cult of the absolute or totalitarian state and the glorification of war.

Arthur Henderson

War

The years of the economic depression have been years of poli

The years of the economic depression have been years of political reaction, and that is why the economic crisis has generated a world peace crisis.

Arthur Henderson

Peace

It is because I believe that it is in the power of such nati

It is because I believe that it is in the power of such nations to lead the world back into the paths of peace that I propose to devote myself to explaining what, in my opinion, can and should be done to banish the fear of war that hangs so heavily over the world.

Arthur Henderson

Fear