I came across this when I was looking up exact "chicken" quotes. Churchill, 1911:

"They sound so very cautious and correct, these deadly words, soft, quiet voices, purring, courteous, grave, exactly-measured phrases in large, peaceful rooms; but with less warning cannons had opened fire, and nations had been struck down by this same Germany, so now the Admiralty wireless whispers through the ether to the masts of ships, and captains pace their decks absorbed in thought. It is nothing. It is less than nothing. It is too foolish, too fantastic to be thought of in the 20th century. Or is it fire and murder leaping out of the darkness at our throats? Torpedoes ripping the bellies of half-awakened ships? A sunrise on a vanished naval supremacy, and an island well-guarded as a tomb, at last defenceless? No, it is nothing! Civilisation has climbed above such perils. No one would do such things. Liberal principle, the Labour Party, high finance, the interdependence of nations in trade and traffic, the sense of public law, Christian charity, common sense have rendered such nightmares impossible. Are you quite sure? It would be a pity to be wrong. Such a mistake could only be made once. Once, for all."

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001