Television

The television has come to take its place in the world; as a rather old-fashioned person I have not been one of its principal champions, but I don’t think it needs any champion. I think it can make its own way and I think it’s a wonderful thing indeed to think that every expression on my face at this moment may be viewed by millions of people throughout the United States. I hope that the raw material is as good as the methods of distribution.

1952. Press conference, New York. (Halle, Irrepressible, 307.)

WSC took a screen test with the BBC, professed himself dissatisfied, and never ventured close to the medium of television.

I remember a saying I heard in my youth: “Every word of Daniel Webster weighs a pound.” But that was before the days of television.

1953, 9 November. Lord Mayor’s Banquet, Guildhall, London. (Alliance, 80.)

Daniel Webster (1782-1852), American statesman and noted orator, part of the Great Triumvirate of the United States Senate, which also included Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.

Even though we have to sink to this level, we always have to keep pace with modern improvements.

1955, London. Editor’s observation.

Stated by Churchill when making his television screen test.

Time

Sidereal time is not solar time. Natural time is not solar time, solar time is not Greenwich time. Clock time never corresponds with the sun time, except on the meridian and on particular days of the year.

1909, 5 March.