William Lyon Mackenzie King Quotes

Fortunately, the Canadian people in all their habits, are essentially a temperate people.

Every hour of useful work is precious.

Far more has been accomplished for the welfare and progress of mankind by preventing bad actions than by doing good ones.

Usury once in control will wreck the nation.

It is what we prevent, rather than what we do that counts most in Government.

As to the advantages of temperance in the training of the armed forces and of its benefits to the members of the forces themselves, there can be no doubt in the world.

In the twelve months immediately preceding the outbreak; of war, the quantity of spirits, both domestic and imported released for sale in Canada, amounted to over three and a half million proof gallons.

I believed the people had a true instinct in most matters of government when left alone. That they were not swayed, as specially favoured individuals were, by personal interest, but rather by a sense of what best served the common good. That they recognized the truth when it was put before them, and that a leader can guide so long as he kept to the right lines. I did not think it was a mark of leadership to try to make the people do what one wanted them to do.

There can be little doubt that absence from work, and inefficient work, are frequently due to intemperance.

Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.

Nor do we begin to have a clear appreciation of what the increase in consumption of alcoholic beverages in wartime means in increased risk, and in loss of efficiency to the fighting and working forces of the country.

On behalf of the federal government, I wish now publicly to appeal to the provinces to lend their co-operation in furthering our country's war effort by effecting at as early a date as may be possible this much needed restriction.

Since the outbreak of war, there has been in our country a steady increase in the consumption of spirits, wine and beer. It is estimated that in dollar volume, the annual outlay is now practically double what it was before the war.

Temperance is essential, if the services of men and women are to be employed to the best and most useful effect according, to the physical capacity and ability of each. Nothing less will assure a total effort.

The increased consumption of alcoholic beverages in Canada since the outbreak of war is one evidence of this.

The people of Canada do not wish as a result of mass immigration to make a fundamental alteration in the character of our population. Large scale immigration from the Orient would change the fundamental composition of the Canadian population.

A true man does not only stand up for himself, he stands up for those that do not have the ability to.

Workers in industry are the partners in war of the fighting forces.

If the military might of Germany and Japan are ultimately to be crushed, the United Nations, one and all, must definitely and urgently strive toward a total war effort.

Regardless of what one's attitude towards prohibition may be, temperance is something against which, at a time of war, no reasonable protest can be made.

Just when we most need to be clearheaded, in order to face the hard facts before us, there is all too frequently a very real inclination to give way to dangerous tendencies merely as an escape from realities.

Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription.

I've always found that you can control people better if you don't see too much of them.

For one cause or another, it has become necessary to impose restrictions upon the use of many commodities, including not a few of the necessities of life.

When gasoline and rubber are rationed, electric power and transport facilities are becoming increasingly scarce, and manpower shortages are developing, it is difficult for people to understand their increased use for other than the most vital needs of war.

Only the man who disciplines himself strictly can stand for long the terrific pace of modern war.