1. Winston Churchill (1946) - "Bessie, You're Right And You Are Also Disgustingly Ugly... But Tomorrow Morning I Shall Be Sober, And You'll Still Be Disgustingly Ugly"
Churchill unsurprisingly gains a second entry on to this list with an absolute gem of a retort. Famed for his orations during the Battle of Britain and the Second World War - that have even come to be termed as "Churchillian Speeches" - the former British Prime Minister certainly didn't lack a sense of humour. In 1946, while Churchill was attending a party in London a year after having been voted out of his first premiership, he was once again soused. And it was British Labour politician Bessie Braddock - nicknamed "Battling Bessie" - who Churchill managed to offend on this occasion. She turned to the intoxicated Churchill and said: "Winston, you are drunk, and what's more you are disgustingly drunk." Despite being far-past tipsy, Churchill responded:
"Bessie you're right, my dear, and you are ugly, and what's more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly."
Extremely harsh - but also a retort of exceptional brilliance.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
