A biography for James Callaghanhasn’t been written yet.
“A leader has to 'appear' consistent. That doesn't mean he has to be consistent.”
“If the law is a bad law, there is always the contingent right to take action that you would not otherwise take.”
“I am rather in favour of dealing with teenage hooliganism.”
“I've never been one to say that Britain was joining a happy band of brothers.”
“A leader must have the courage to act against an expert's advice.”
“I sum up the prospects for 1967 in three short sentences. We are back on course. The ship is picking up speed. The economy is moving. Every seaman knows the command at such a moment: 'steady as she goes'.”
“There is not a single injustice in Northern Ireland that is worth the loss of a single British soldier or a single Irish citizen either.”
“There are no instant solutions.”
“The rule of law should be upheld by all political parties. They should neither advise others to break the law, nor encourage others to do so even when they strongly disagree with the legislation put forward by the government of the day.”
“Some people, however long their experience or strong their intellect, are temperamentally incapable of reaching firm decisions.”
“A lie can be halfway round the world before the truth has got its boots on.”
“I am not proposing to seek your votes because there is a blue sky ahead today.”
“Your strike will not win. You cannot be allowed to succeed.”
“You can never reach the promised land. You can march towards it.”