John Curtin

“No nation can be regarded as having secure standards of living if other nations have sub-normal standards.”

“We have a great objective - the security of this country.”

“Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom.”

“We will not fail our fighting men. We will not fail our allies. We will not fail our own people.”

“Men and women of Australia, we are at war with Japan. We are a nation that has been treacherously attacked.”

“The Australian Government...regards the Pacific struggle as primarily one in which the United States and Australia must have the fullest say in the direction of the democracies' fighting plan.”

“The tasks we have to do are not easy, but they are not beyond us.”

“I see no reason why the Australian people should not be able to do what other peoples can do.”

“Our capacity to defend ourselves is the measure of our sovereignty.”

“It is not the statesmen who make war... The statesman is responsible for the peace.”