30 William Lyon Mackenzie King Quotes

William Lyon Mackenzie King quotes

1. Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription.

2. Until the control of the issue of currency and credit is restored to government and recognized as its most conspicuous and sacred responsibility, all talks of the sovereignty of Parliament and of democracy is idle and futile... Once a nation parts with the control of its credit, it matters not who makes the laws... Usury once in control will wreck the nation.

3. If some countries have too much history, we have too much geography.

4. When it comes to politics, one has to do as one [does] at sea with a sailing ship... reach one's course having regard to prevailing winds.

5. It is what we prevent, rather than what we do that counts most in Government.

6. Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.

7. I believed the people had a true instinct in most matters of government when left alone. That they were not swayed, as specially favoured individuals were, by personal interest, but rather by a sense of what best served the common good. That they recognized the truth when it was put before them, and that a leader can guide so long as he kept to the right lines. I did not think it was a mark of leadership to try to make the people do what one wanted them to do.

8. We had no shape Because he never took sides; And no sides Because he never allowed them to take shape.

9. Do nothing by halves Which can be done by quarters.

   Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

10. William Lyon Mackenzie King Sat in a corner and played with string, Loved his mother like anything, William Lyon Mackenzie King.

1. From the outset of the war, the Canadian people have clearly shown that it is their desire to help in every way to make Canada's war effort as effective as possible.

2. From the outset of the war, the Canadian people have clearly shown that it is their desire to help in every way to make Canadas war effort as effective as possible.

3. A true man does not only stand up for himself, he stands up for those that do not have the ability to.

4. Nor do we begin to have a clear appreciation of what the increase in consumption of alcoholic beverages in wartime means in increased risk, and in loss of efficiency to the fighting and working forces of the country.

5. Self-denial and self-discipline, however, will be recognized as the outstanding qualities of a good soldier.

6. There can be little doubt that absence from work, and inefficient work, are frequently due to intemperance.

7. Since the outbreak of war, there has been in our country a steady increase in the consumption of spirits, wine and beer. It is estimated that in dollar volume, the annual outlay is now practically double what it was before the war.

8. The anxiety of most parents in seeing their sons and daughters enlist does not lie only in the fear of the physical dangers they may encounter.

9. The politician's promises of yesterday are the taxes of today.

10. Until the control of the issue of currency and credit is restored to government and recognized as its most conspicuous and sacred responsibility, all talks of the sovereignty of Parliament and of democracy is idle and futile.

11. In the twelve months immediately preceding the outbreak; of war, the quantity of spirits, both domestic and imported released for sale in Canada, amounted to over three and a half million proof gallons.

12. The people of Canada do not wish as a result of mass immigration to make a fundamental alteration in the character of our population. Large scale immigration from the Orient would change the fundamental composition of the Canadian population.

13. Far more has been accomplished for the welfare and progress of mankind by preventing bad actions than by doing good ones.

14. Only the man who disciplines himself strictly can stand for long the terrific pace of modern war.

15. Each year, therefore, a dollar spent on alcoholic beverages has purchased a smaller quantity.

16. Government, in the last analysis, is organized opinion. Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government.

17. As to the advantages of temperance in the training of the armed forces and of its benefits to the members of the forces themselves, there can be no doubt in the world.

18. Once a nation parts with the control of its credit, it matters not who makes the laws.

19. On behalf of the federal government, I wish now publicly to appeal to the provinces to lend their co-operation in furthering our country's war effort by effecting at as early a date as may be possible this much needed restriction.

20. The increased consumption of alcoholic beverages in Canada since the outbreak of war is one evidence of this.