--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There must be what Mr. Gladstone many…" description: "\"There must be what Mr. Gladstone many years ago called a blessed act of oblivion. We must all turn our backs upon the horrors of the past. We must look..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/winston-churchill-95_blessed_there-must-be-what-mr-gladstone-many-yea_1125554.jpg" --- # There must be what Mr. Gladstone many years ago called a… ![“There must be what Mr. Gladstone many years ago called a blessed act of oblivion. We must all turn our backs upon the horrors of the past. We must look to the future. We cannot afford to drag forward across the years that are to come the hatreds and revenges which have sprung from the injuries of…” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/winston-churchill-95_blessed_there-must-be-what-mr-gladstone-many-yea_1125554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/winston-churchill-95_blessed_there-must-be-what-mr-gladstone-many-yea_1125554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/winston-churchill-95_blessed_there-must-be-what-mr-gladstone-many-yea_1125554.jpg) > “There must be what Mr. Gladstone many years ago called a blessed act of oblivion. We must all turn our backs upon the horrors of the past. We must look to the future. We cannot afford to drag forward across the years that are to come the hatreds and revenges which have sprung from the injuries of the past.” [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges abandoning past grievances to focus on rebuilding and future peace, warning that lingering hatred fuels ongoing conflict. **In simple terms:** Forget past hurts; aim for future peace. Key Takeaway Release old resentments, embrace forward vision. Themes forgiveness future reconciliation Mood reflective hopeful serious Type political philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Post‑war reconstruction - national healing - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts Historical trauma collective memory political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies let go of past trauma without erasing lessons? - What steps foster genuine reconciliation? A Different Perspective Neglecting history can repeat mistakes; balance remembrance with progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-oblivion-3066269/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Come Hatreds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-hatreds-3066270/) [Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag/) [Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gladstone/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Hatred and revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-and-revenge-79870/) [Hatreds Revenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatreds-revenges-3066271/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Horrors Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrors-past-1325548/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Looking to the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-to-the-future/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Sprung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprung/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Mr. Gladstone read Homer for fun, which I thought served him right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/mr-gladstone-read-homer-for-fun-which-i-thought-served-him-right/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Knowing about the horrors of the past imparts a responsibility to call out prejudice in the world today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/knowing-about-the-horrors-of-the-past-imparts-a-responsibility-to/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [Socially and politically, we seem to be living in dire times, worse times than in the past. But there were far worse horrors in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-major/socially-and-politically-we-seem-to-be-living-in-dire-times-worse/) [Clarence Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-major/) > [“The dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that others don't have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/the-dementors-affect-you-worse-than-the-others-because-there-are/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [The human heart in its perversity finds it hard to escape hatred and revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-chaim-luzzatto/the-human-heart-in-its-perversity-finds-it-hard-to-escape-hatred-and/) [Moshe Chaim Luzzatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-chaim-luzzatto/) > [Such is the moral construction of the world that no national crime passes unpunished in the long run... Were present oppressors to reflect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/such-is-the-moral-construction-of-the-world-that-no-national-crime/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [History of Ireland--lawlessness and turbulency, robbery and oppression, hatred and revenge, blind selfishness everywhere--no principle, no heroism. What can be done with it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allingham/history-of-ireland-lawlessness-and-turbulency-robbery-and-oppression/) [William Allingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allingham/) > [Crude men who feel themselves insulted tend to assess the degree of insult as high as possible, and talk about the offense in greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/crude-men-who-feel-themselves-insulted-tend-to-assess-the-degree-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Why, sir, there is every probability that you will soon be able to tax it! Said to William Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faraday/why-sir-there-is-every-probability-that-you-will-soon-be-able-to-tax/) [Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/) > [“Caring means cultivating the skills of an active listener. That is easier said than done, as an anecdote about the extraordinary social skills of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-deegan/caring-means-cultivating-the-skills-of-an-active-listener-that-is/) [Marian Deegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-deegan/) > [William Gladstone has not a single redeeming defect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/william-gladstone-has-not-a-single-redeeming-defect/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The Queen has done all she could on the dreadful subject of vivisection, and hopes that Mr. Gladstone will speak strongly against such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-victoria/the-queen-has-done-all-she-could-on-the-dreadful-subject-of/) [Queen Victoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-victoria/) > [That is Gladstone, the greatest statesman that ever lived. I intend to be a statesman, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/that-is-gladstone-the-greatest-statesman-that-ever-lived-i-intend-to/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone spent his declining years trying to guess the answer to the Irish Question; unfortunately, whenever he was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-sellar/british-prime-minister-william-ewart-gladstone-spent-his-declining/) [W. C. Sellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-sellar/) > [It was said that Mr. Gladstone could persuade most people of most things, and himself of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-inge/it-was-said-that-mr-gladstone-could-persuade-most-people-of-most/) [Dean Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-inge/) ## More by Winston Churchill > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Never, never, never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-never-never-give-up/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most times he will pick himself up and carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/man-will-occasionally-stumble-over-the-truth-but-most-times-he-will/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [God alone knows how great it is. All I hope is that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/god-alone-knows-how-great-it-is-all-i-hope-is-that-it-is-not-too-late/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Writing a book is an adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-a-book-is-an-adventure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/all-men-make-mistakes-but-only-wise-men-learn-from-their-mistakes/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [People who are not prepared to do unpopular things and defy the clamor of the multitude are not fit to be ministers in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/people-who-are-not-prepared-to-do-unpopular-things-and-defy-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [To meet Roosevelt with all his buoyant sparkle, his iridescence, was like opening a bottle of champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/to-meet-roosevelt-with-all-his-buoyant-sparkle-his-iridescence-was/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-always-ready-to-learn-although-i-do-not-always-like-being-taught/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There are plenty of good ideas, if only they can be backed with the power of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-are-plenty-of-good-ideas-if-only-they-can-be-backed-with-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) [Explore all 1,366 Winston Churchill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More Blessed quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [You know, I'm blessed. 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