Books are a real solace, friendships are good but action is better than all.
John Burns

Don't hustle old people.
John Burns

For the moment and for some time great events have been denied me, forward action not come my way.
John Burns

I am depressed rather at the wave of brutality sweeping over the country.
John Burns

I am not ashamed to say that I am the son of a washerwoman.
John Burns

I am only doing now what I have ever done; and ever will continue to do - that is adapting past experience to present reform in the light of high ideals and future objects.
John Burns

I believe, however, that impending events will call us and we must respond but where, with whom, and how?
John Burns

I don't want boys to use their pencils for improper writing.
John Burns

I must firmly adhere to the views I have held and practice, that Socialism to succeed must be practical, tolerant, cohesive and consciously compromising with Progressive forces running, if not so far, in parallel lines towards its own goal.
John Burns

I neither drink nor smoke, because my schoolmaster impressed upon me three cardinal virtues; cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind; temperance.
John Burns


I recognise that Socialism has ended its purely theoretical course, and that the hour to construct has come.
John Burns

I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is not in their power to help themselves.
John Burns

In this work I have received the opposition of a number of men who only advocate the unobtainable because the immediately possible is beyond their moral courage, administrative ability, and their political prescience.
John Burns

Individual effort is almost relatively impossible to cope with the big problem of poverty as we see it.
John Burns

Judge men less by the labels they wear than by their persistent labour for sure if slow progress.
John Burns

My duty is clear and at all costs will be done.
John Burns

The Gentlemen of England serve under the greatest cad in Europe.
John Burns

The men who made the war were profuse in their praises of the man who kicked the P.M. out of his office and now degrades by his disloyal, dishonest and lying presence the greatest office in the State.
John Burns

The Thames is liquid history.
John Burns

Why four great powers should fight over Serbia no fellow can understand.
John Burns