Quote: I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught (Winston Churchill 1952 Nov 4)

[Garson O'Toole]

Quotation in the News: A merger between two massive power companies
led to a boardroom battle and the ousting of the CEO of the newly
combined company as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

I was asked about a statement that was made by the bounced CEO, Bill
Johnson, that reportedly alienated his new board members. Johnson's
lawyer stated that Johnson was paraphrasing Churchill.

Cite: 2012 July 21, Wall Street Journal, Corporate News: Regulator
Warns Duke Could Face Sanctions on Deal by Rebecca Smith and Valerie
Bauerlein, Page B3, New York. (ProQuest) [Online at online.wsj.com
byline date is one day previous: 2012 July 20]

[Begin excerpt]
Ms. Gray said Mr. Johnson made two board appearances during the
18-month merger period. In the first appearance, she said, he got off
on the wrong foot when he described himself as "a person who likes to
learn but not be taught." She said she took it to mean: "I don't care
about your feedback or I don't really care about your input."

Wade Smith, Mr. Johnson's attorney, said his client, in fact, was
paraphrasing Winston Churchill, who once said "I always like to learn
but I sometimes don't like to be taught." Mr. Johnson had no idea the
Duke board took umbrage at his comment, Mr. Smith said.
[End excerpt]

Yale Books of Quotation, the Quote Verifier, and the Oxford Dictionary
of Quotations do not apparently have this saying.

There is a version of the statement recorded in the Hansard as spoken
by Winston Churchill in 1952.

Cite: 1952 November 4, Hansard, United Kingdom Parliament, Commons,
Speaking: The Prime Minister Winstin Churchill, HC Deb 04, volume 507,
cc7-134. (Accessed hansard.millbanksystems.com on 2012 July 23)

[Begin excerpt]
Personally, I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like
being taught, but I shall not attempt to foreshadow the proposals
which will be brought before the House tomorrow. Today it will be
sufficient and appropriate to deal with the obvious difficulties and
confusion of the situation as we found it on taking office.
[End excerpt]

The quote is listed in "Irrepressible Churchill" but the wording is
slightly different.

Cite: 1966, Irrepressible Churchill: A Treasury of Winston Churchill's
Wit by Kay Halle, Page 314, World Publishing Company, Cleveland and
New York. (Verified on paper)

[Begin excerpt]
HOUSE OF COMMONS On November 4, on a Bill furthering the production of
the iron and steel industry.
W.S.C.:  Personally, Mr. Speaker, I am always ready to learn, although
I do not always like being taught.
 [End excerpt]

The Penguin Dictionary of Modern Quotations (revised 1976) has the
saying and cites the Observer newspaper.

Garson

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