Who first said this famous quote about Democrats and Republicans?

Question

"If you are young and not a Democrat you haven't a heart. To be old and not a Republican, you haven't a brain."

From what famous political/historical figure does this quote originate?

Nice, ArgleBar. Who knows whether that source is legit or not, I notice it's in D.C. A bit of an odd place to locate an authority on a British leader, wouldn't you say? Would we look to a "George Washington Centre" in London for our best facts on that famous American President? But none the less, nice back up source!

Which means we are looking for a secondary source/idea?

Not sure that's a real dependable source, 3D. Quite a lot of hyperbole.

Answer 1

Churchill didn't say it, and it'd be nice if people would stop spreading this falsehood.

"How deeply moving it is to me to see how revered is my father's memory, which The Churchill Centre does so much to keep fresh and green."

THE LADY SOAMES, D.B.E.
Daughter of Sir Winston, Patron of The Centre

"The Churchill Centre has achieved an astonishing record...to maintain access to his words is a true historical service, something his future will be very grateful for."

SIR ANTHONY MONTAGUE BROWNE
Private Secretary to Sir Winston, 1952-1965

"To the youth of America, as to the youth of all the Britains, I say, 'You cannot stop. It must be world anarchy or world order. You will find in the British Commonwealth good comrades to whom you are united by other ties besides those of State policy and public need. Law, language, literature...common conceptions of what is right and decent, a marked regard for fair play, especially to the weak and poor, a stern sentiment of impartial justice, and above all the love of personal freedom. These are common conceptions on both sides of the ocean among the English-Speaking Peoples."

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL
Harvard, 6 September 1943

Frankly I don't care if you believe it or not. I've dug for other sources and haven't found any. Until someone comes up with a better one, I'm content it's true, and a reasonable person would not post the quote anymore until better info is available.

Answer 2

From CNN Political Ticker February 26 '07

Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Giuliani said, "If you're not a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. But if you're not a conservative by the time you're 40, you have no brain."

EDIT:
It may not be true, but here's another reference. (I have no problem at all believing this is misquoted over and over. In fact, second edit, I've now done enough to agree that it's misquoted. It's also attributed to Benjamin Disraeli and George Bernard Shaw. It might be an anonymous quotation.) This one from Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations.

"If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart, and if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain."

Winston Churchill, 1874-1965
British Prime Minister (Conservative)
Attributed

Answer 3

The quote is about being liberal and conservative, not Democrat and Republican. It's been mostly attributed to Winston Churchill (who was liberal in his youth and became conservative when older ... like most people, really). However, I tried to confirm that one time and came up empty-handed.

Answer 4

It was liberal and Conservative and the quote was from Winston Churchill , you can find it here
http://www.boycottliberalism.com

Answer 5

I think it might have been Churchill, but he would have used LIberal for Democrat and Conservative for Republican.

Answer 6

Humm
Is that why DEMS logo is a donky, Repuke an elephant?

Answer 7

good question, I really wonder too myself.