John Burns Quotes

The Thames is liquid history.

I neither drink nor smoke, because my schoolmaster impressed upon me three cardinal virtues; cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind; temperance.

I am depressed rather at the wave of brutality sweeping over the country.

I recognise that Socialism has ended its purely theoretical course, and that the hour to construct has come.

Books are a real solace, friendships are good but action is better than all.

Why four great powers should fight over Serbia no fellow can understand.

I am not ashamed to say that I am the son of a washerwoman.

I am only doing now what I have ever done; and ever will continue to do - that is adapting past experience to present reform in the light of high ideals and future objects.

Judge men less by the labels they wear than by their persistent labour for sure if slow progress.

Individual effort is almost relatively impossible to cope with the big problem of poverty as we see it.

I don't want boys to use their pencils for improper writing.

Don't hustle old people.

I believe, however, that impending events will call us and we must respond but where, with whom, and how?

My duty is clear and at all costs will be done.

For the moment and for some time great events have been denied me, forward action not come my way.

You come before me this morning with clean hands and clean collars. I want you to have clean tongues, clean manners, clean morals and clean characters.

I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is not in their power to help themselves.