“Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.”
- November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965
- British
- Politician, army officer, writer
- As British Prime Minister during World War II, he led the Allied powers to victory
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Quote
“Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.”
Explanation
In this quote, Winston Churchill draws a comparison between the risks and uncertainties of politics and war. He acknowledges that both can be highly intense and dangerous, but where in war a person faces the ultimate consequence of being killed once, in politics, individuals can experience multiple figurative deaths—through defeat, humiliation, scandal, or the loss of political power. Churchill suggests that the psychological toll of politics, with its constant battles for influence and control, can be as harmful, if not more so, than the physical dangers faced in war.
Churchill himself had experienced the volatility of politics, where his fortunes often fluctuated between triumph and disgrace. He was removed from office, criticized, and at times considered politically irrelevant, only to return to prominence and lead Britain to victory during World War II. In politics, one can be “killed” repeatedly by opposition forces, losing status, influence, and credibility—often without finality, unlike in the finality of death in war. This underscores the brutality of political life, where rivalries and betrayals can strike unexpectedly and destroy a career or reputation.
Today, this quote remains relevant in modern politics, where leaders are constantly at risk of public opinion shifts, media scrutiny, and electoral defeats. The quote serves as a reminder that in the political arena, survival is not only about facing direct threats but about withstanding the continuous pressure of public and partisan challenges. In this sense, the danger in politics is not just physical but can be psychological, with multiple setbacks that test one’s resilience over time.
