It has been estimated that Winston Churchill was to have had the largest functional lexicon of English vocabulary of any person (at least publicly known) in the history of the English Language. Quite a verbal prodigy.
Yet, with all his rhetorical prowess, it's not for his verbosity that he is most indelibly burned in my mind. Indeed, it is something he said, a quote, that sticks most poignantly in my mind, but not one so wordy as he could have made.
During the "Battle of Britain," while the Nazis unflaggingly barraged Great Britain with insistent bomber runs and strafes, Churchill led his country and encouraged its constituents with these simple words: “Never, never, never give up.” Loquacity ceases.
Sometimes what most needs to be communicated is best said simply. And, what a challenge this quote leaves us. All of us, at some point, will encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable. Remember, though, the circumstances under which Churchill was able to make such an admonition.
Remember even further Jesus,”… who for the joy set before him endured the CROSS, scorning its shame…” Who of us has an obstacle comparable to that?
