LETTER:Lazy omission

Sir: By omission of one small word in your otherwise admirable VE Day leading article ("Unlearning the lessons of 1945", 8 May), you reveal an attitude that may go some way to explaining Britain's post-war decline.

You write: "It will continue to require blood, sweat and tears" if we are to make the world a better place. Winston Churchill knew better than that. His actual words, on 13 May 1940, were "blood, toil, tears and sweat".

Yours sincerely,

DAVID A. ROTHERY

Silverstone, Northamptonshire

10 May