Winston Churchill's (1874–1965) struggle against the policy of appeasement, for which he was initially branded a warmonger, ultimately brought him to the head of government in the critical war year of 1940. With his amazing rhetoric, he managed to rally the isolated island nation to a determined war effort and led it to victory over Nazi Germany. Historian Andrew Roberts humorously noted (in The Storm of War) that Churchill's speeches were worth at least three German divisions. Churchill diligently devoted himself to rhetoric from a young age, perhaps also to overcome his speech impediment, much like Demosthenes. He was aware that the ability to speak well plays a crucial role in politics; only the style of speech can elevate the meaning of the message, emphasize its seriousness, and impact the audience. A true leader must inspire, appealing to the highest values and ideals of the nation and civilization. However, Churchill would not be English if he did not understand that at its core, politics is also a game, that at the heart of a good speech are not only serious words but also wisdom and wit in bon mots. He even believed that after all the hardships and battles, which would ultimately be forgotten, the fruits of his verbal efforts would remain (after all, he also won the Nobel Prize for...
