Harold MacMillan Quotes

A collection of quotes by Harold MacMillan.

Harold MacMillan, born in 1894 and died in 1986, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963. As a member of the Conservative Party, MacMillan implemented significant domestic reforms and aimed to address longstanding social issues in Britain. He also sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union and was involved in international affairs during the Cold War. MacMillan's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by economic challenges and political scandals. Notably, his resignation in 1963 was due to health issues and political pressure within his party.

At home, you always have to be a politician when you're abro

At home, you always have to be a politician when you're abroad, you almost feel yourself a statesman.

Harold MacMillan


In long experience I find that a man who trusts nobody is ap

In long experience I find that a man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts.

Harold MacMillan

Experience

I have never found, in a long experience of politics, that c

I have never found, in a long experience of politics, that criticism is ever inhibited by ignorance.

Harold MacMillan

Experience

I was determined that no British government should be brough

I was determined that no British government should be brought down by the action of two tarts.

Harold MacMillan

Government

It is the duty of Her Majesty's government neither to flap n

It is the duty of Her Majesty's government neither to flap nor to falter.

Harold MacMillan

Government

A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody

A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts.

Harold MacMillan

Trust

If you don't believe in God, all you have to believe in is d

If you don't believe in God, all you have to believe in is decency. Decency is very good. Better decent than indecent. But I don't think it's enough.

Harold MacMillan

Atheism

At home you always have to be a politician. When you're abro

At home you always have to be a politician. When you're abroad you almost feel yourself a statesman.

Harold MacMillan

Politics

A Foreign Secretaryand this applies also to a prospective Fo

A Foreign Secretaryand this applies also to a prospective Foreign Secretaryis always faced with this cruel dilemma. Nothing he can say can do very much good, and almost anything he may say may do a great deal of harm. Anything he says that is not obvious is dangerous; whatever is not trite is risky. He is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion.

Harold MacMillan


As usual the Liberals offer a mixture of sound and original

As usual the Liberals offer a mixture of sound and original ideas. Unfortunately none of the sound ideas is original and none of the original ideas is sound.

Harold MacMillan

Politics

Marxism is like a classical building that followed the Renai

Marxism is like a classical building that followed the Renaissance; beautiful in its way, but incapable of growth.

Harold MacMillan

Communism

We do not intend to part from the Americans and we do not in

We do not intend to part from the Americans and we do not intend to be satellites. I am sure they do not want us to be so. The stronger we are, the better partners we shall be; and I feel certain that as the months pass we shall draw continually closer together with mutual confidence and respect.

Harold MacMillan


Power? It's like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, ther

Power? It's like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there.

Harold MacMillan

Power

The wind of change is blowing through the continent. Whether

The wind of change is blowing through the continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.

Harold MacMillan

Change

Jaw-jaw is better than war-war.

Jaw-jaw is better than war-war.

Harold MacMillan

Business

We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall dow

We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall down for the divine right of experts.

Harold MacMillan

Professionalism

Memorial services are the cocktail parties of the geriatric

Memorial services are the cocktail parties of the geriatric set.

Harold MacMillan

Funerals

It has been said that there is no fool like an old fool, exc

It has been said that there is no fool like an old fool, except a young fool. But the young fool has first to grow up to be an old fool to realize what a damn fool he was when he was a young fool.

Harold MacMillan

Foolishness Fools