Churchill gave this speech in 1940 while WWII was underway. Churchill 's policy was to convince British people that war against Germany, a horrendous tyranny at the time, meant the survival of the British Empire. Britain had to gain victory over Germany at all costs. Churchill's response to the war conflict was challenging; he urged his people to help him unite strength in spite of the difficulties Britain had been facing. These words: " Blood, Toil, Tears and sweat" stand for Churchill's own strength ; he knew that war meant suffering and hardship but it was the path to British victory.