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"If you're not a socialist at the age of 20 you have no heart. 

If you're not a conservative at the age of 40, you have no brain."

This quote is frequently but mistakenly attributed to Winston Churchill; although it is likely that Churchill would subscribe to this philosophy: He was a swashbuckling soldier at 20, and a Conservative member of Parliament at 25. A couple of years later he switched to the Liberal Party (not the same thing as our modern liberals), and later went back to the Conservatives.


The phrase actually originated with Francois Guizot (1787-1874) a French monarchist statesman under Louis Philippe:

"Not to be a Republican at twenty is proof of want of heart;
to be one at thirty is proof of want of head."

Bear in mind, in the revolutionary struggles of France before and after the Napoleonic era, a 'Republican' was a revolutionary, almost the same thing as a Communist of the modern era.


The saying was revived by French Premier Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929):

"Not to be a socialist at twenty is proof of want of heart;
to be one at thirty is proof of want of head."

Check out that Gallic shrug; he was the quintessential Frog.


Variations on this quote have been attributed to Disraeli, Shaw, Churchill, and Bertrand Russell.


What Churchill DID say:

"Never,
NEVER,
NEVER 
give up!"

Today's Bird HERE


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