Quotes by John Burns

• In this work I have received the opposition of a number of men who only advocate the unobtainable because the immediately possible is beyond their moral courage, administrative ability, and their political prescience.
• Books are a real solace, friendships are good but action is better than all.
• 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.
• I believe, however, that impending events will call us and we must respond but where, with whom, and how?
• I don't want boys to use their pencils for improper writing.
• I must firmly adhere to the views I have held and practice, that Socialism to succeed must be practical, tolerant, cohesive and consciously compromising with Progressive forces running, if not so far, in parallel lines towards its own goal.
• I neither drink nor smoke, because my schoolmaster impressed upon me three cardinal virtues; cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind; temperance.
• For the moment and for some time great events have been denied me, forward action not come my way.
• 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.
• Don't hustle old people.
• Individual effort is almost relatively impossible to cope with the big problem of poverty as we see it.
• Judge men less by the labels they wear than by their persistent labour for sure if slow progress.
• My duty is clear and at all costs will be done.
• The Gentlemen of England serve under the greatest cad in Europe.
• The men who made the war were profuse in their praises of the man who kicked the P.M. out of his office and now degrades by his disloyal, dishonest and lying presence the greatest office in the State.
• The Thames is liquid history.
• Why four great powers should fight over Serbia no fellow can understand.
• 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 recognise that Socialism has ended its purely theoretical course, and that the hour to construct has come.
• I am depressed rather at the wave of brutality sweeping over the country.