The Churchill Series – Jan. 12, 2007

(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

I promised a post today concerning Churchill’s WW I service in the trenches. Because of some unexpected travel problems (now solved), I don’t have at hand the books I need to refer to.

But I have something I think you will find worth reading.

You may know of John “Jock” Colville who was Churchill’s Private Secretary during WW II, except for a time when he served with distinction as an RAF pilot. Colville again served as Private Secretary during Churchill’s second premiership. He remained a close friend and advisor to both Winston and Clementine for the rest to their lives.

In Winston Churchill and His Inner Circle Colville writes:

In nature most of the impurities cleave to the lower ground. The hilltops are bare of undergrowth; the tall trees stretch above the creepers.

Human beings obey another law. The higher they climb, the grosser the temptations they meet. Few who reach the summit can be acquitted of vanity or conceit, whatever other vices they are strong enough to resist.

I make a distinction between the two. Vanity is an infection suffered by those who care too much what others think of them. Conceit is self-satisfaction, the mark of people sufficiently sure of themselves to hold the opinion of others as of little account except insofar as it favors or impedes their progress.

Both vanity and conceit are defects, but neither need be destructive of personal charm or of zeal to serve the community. They are seldom fatal infections and they do not necessarily strangle virtues. They are more exasperating in some than in others.

Roosevelt was vain; Churchill was conceited. (pgs. 132-133)

I hope you all have a nice weekend and are back for Monday’s post.