I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government an official note stating that unless we heard from them by eleven o'clock, that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and consequently this country is at war with Germany.
Interpretation
This quote marks the declaration of war by Britain against Germany, signaling the start of a significant conflict in World War II.
Neville Chamberlain delivered this statement to announce the outbreak of war between Britain and Germany in 1939. It reflects the gravity of the situation, as it underscores the failure of diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict and indicates the dire consequences that follow when negotiations break down. This moment is historically significant as it marks Britain's entry into World War II, highlighting the themes of leadership, responsibility, and the challenges faced in maintaining peace.
In practice
This quote could be used in a history class to discuss the causes of World War II.
We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe.
Taxation is not a method by which the community corporately provides itself with essential services, but a fund to be divided between different interests with political claims upon the state.
In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers.
Armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me; but if I were convinced that any nation had made up its mind to dominate the world by fear of its force, I should feel that it must be resisted.
How horrible, fantastic, incredible, it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a faraway country between people of whom we know nothing.
If you read about millions of people doing this and millions of people doing that, history seems remote and inaccessible.
History is the queen of the humanities. It teaches wisdom and humility, and it tells us how things change through time.
The British government had not engaged in any serious actual oppression of the colonies before 1774, but it had claimed powers not granted by the governed, powers that made oppression possible, powers that it began to exercise in 1774 in response to colonial denial of them. The Revolution came about not to overthrow tyranny, but to prevent it.
Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together!
Historians are to nationalism what poppy-growers in Pakistan are to heroin-addicts: we supply the essential raw material for the market.
Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.
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