Words That Last Forever

''I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.''

• Abraham Lincoln

• Lord Byron

• Winston Churchill

• Socrates

Answer explanation

The speech was intended to be a stirring and uplifting call to arms. Churchill was aware of the public hopes that he could change the direction of the war - much in the way that ailing sports clubs hope to change their fortunes by appointing a new manager - and he wanted to make best use of that tide of feeling.

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

• Thomas Alva Edison

• John F Kennedy

• Neil Armstrong

• Abraham Lincoln

Answer explanation

Lincoln's last speech, delivered on 11 April 1865, seldom receives the attention it deserves. The prose is not poetic, but then it was not meant to inspire but to persuade. He had written the bulk of the speech weeks earlier in an attempt to convince Congress to readmit Louisiana to the Union.

"No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or death."

• Neil Armstrong

• Socrates

• Napoleon Bonaparte

• Thomas Alva Edison

Answer explanation

He was of middle economic status.

He made money from teaching.

No belief in religion.

He did not leave any recorded teachings behind.

Famous teacher.

He might have been a democrat.

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

• Lord Byron

• Napoleon Bonaparte

• Winston Churchill

• Thomas Alva Edison

Answer explanation

The quote is attributed to Thomas Edison in an article in Harper's Magazine. With this statement, Edison is saying that works of genius, that is, things resulting from superior intellect or creativity, come from both inspiration (the idea) and perspiration, referring to the sweating a person does when working hard.

"It is an unfortune fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war."

• Socrates

• Lord Byron

• John F Kennedy

• Abraham Lincoln

Answer explanation

The American University speech, titled "A Strategy of Peace", was a commencement address delivered by United States President John F. Noteworthy are his comments that the United States was seeking a goal of "complete disarmament" of nuclear weapons and his vow that America "will never start a war".

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind"

• Neil Armstrong

• Winston Churchill

• Napoleon Bonaparte

• Socrates

Answer explanation

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." But after returning from space, Armstrong said that wasn't what he had planned to say. He said there was a lost word in his famous one-liner from the moon: "That's one small step for 'a' man." It's just that people just didn't hear it."

"Whom the gods love, die young"

• Thomas Alva Edison

• Lord Byron

• Winston Churchill

• Socrates

Answer explanation

Lord Byron became a Lord when he was just ten years old.

Lord Byron was born George Gordon Byron.

Lord Byron had a pet bear.

Lord Byron was a huge animal-lover.

"Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools"

• Abraham Lincoln

• Winston Churchill

• Neil Armstrong

• Napoleon Bonaparte

Answer explanation

He would disguise himself and walk the streets.

He was tone deaf.

He was afraid of cats (possibly).

He discovered the Rosetta Stone.