[00:00.24]Passage 99. Blood, Toil, Sweat and Tears

[00:07.56]In this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today,

[00:13.31]and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction

[00:20.64]will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.

[00:25.90]I say to the House as I said to Ministers who have joined this government,

[00:31.26]I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, sweat and tears.

[00:35.96]We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind.

[00:40.12]We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.

[00:45.04]You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea and air.

[00:52.26]War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us,

[00:57.41]and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and unpleasant catalogue of human crime.

[01:04.30]That is our policy.

[01:07.47]You ask, what is our aim?

[01:09.99]I can answer in one word.

[01:12.50]It is victory. Victory at all costs—victory in spite of all terrors—victory,

[01:19.67]however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.

[01:25.47]Let that be realized.

[01:27.87]No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for,

[01:33.68]no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages,

[01:38.60]that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.

[01:41.66]I take up my task in light heart and hope.

[01:45.38]I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men.

[01:49.65]I feel entitled at this juncture, at this time, to claim the aid of all and to say,

[01:55.99]“Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.”