Margaret Hilda Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. A Soviet journalist dubbed her as “The Iron Lady”, a nickname that became associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership style. As Prime Minister, Thatcher implemented policies known as Thatcherism. Inspirational Margaret Thatcher quotes will motivate you to strengthen your resolve and overcome your challenges.
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Most Famous Margaret Thatcher Quotes
Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you. Margaret Thatcher
Being democratic is not enough, a majority cannot turn what is wrong into right. In order to be considered truly free, countries must also have a deep love of liberty and an abiding respect for the rule of law. Margaret Thatcher
The government has no money of its own. It’s all your money. Margaret Thatcher
The legal system we have and the rule of law are far more responsible for our traditional liberties than any system of one man one vote. Any country or Government which wants to proceed towards tyranny starts to undermine legal rights and undermine the law. Margaret Thatcher
If you set out to be liked, you will accomplish nothing. Margaret Thatcher
I believe in the acceptance of personal responsibility, freedom of choice, and the British Empire, which took freedom and the rule of law to countries which would never have known it otherwise. Margaret Thatcher
What we should grasp, however, from the lessons of European history is that, first, there is nothing necessarily benevolent about programmes of European integration; second, the desire to achieve grand utopian plans often poses a grave threat to freedom; and third, European unity has been tried before, and the outcome was far from happy. Margaret Thatcher
It is recorded how towards the end of the eighteenth century a Muslim visitor to England was taken to see the House of Commons at work. He later wrote of his astonishment at finding that the British Parliament actually made laws and fixed punishments for their infraction because unlike Muslims the English had not accepted a divine law revealed from heaven and therefore had to resort to such unsatisfactory expedients. Muslims still understand the expression the rule of law’ very differently than do most Westerners. Margaret Thatcher
You don’t win by just being against things, you only win by being for things and making your message perfectly clear. Margaret Thatcher
A woman with a strong will is called mean a man with a strong will is called powerful.
Each generation has to stand up for democracy. It can’t take anything for granted and may have to fight fundamental battles anew. Margaret Thatcher
Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.
Life’s greatest reward is life itself. Margaret Thatcher
It may be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the eggs.
We will stand on principle or we will not stand at all. Margaret Thatcher
No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money as well.
The Labour Party believes in turning workers against owners; we believe in turning workers into owners. Margaret Thatcher
If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.
Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become your character. And watch your character for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become. My father always said that, and I think I am fine. Margaret Thatcher
The home should be the center but not the boundary of a woman’s life.
The first step in calculating which way to go is to find out where you are. Margaret Thatcher
I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.
There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families. Margaret Thatcher
To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.
Individualism has come in for an enormous amount of criticism over the years. It still does. It is widely assumed to be synonymous with selfishness, But the main reason why so many people in power have always disliked individualism is because it is individualists who are ever keenest to prevent the abuse of authority. Margaret Thatcher
There can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty.
Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self esteem, and personal satisfaction. Margaret Thatcher
A country’s wealth need not depend on natural resources, it may even ultimately benefit from their absence. The greatest resource of all is man. What government has to do is to set the framework for human talent to flourish.
That nations that have gone for equality, like Communism, have neither freedom nor justice nor equality, they’ve the greatest inequalities of all, the privileges of the politicians are far greater compared with the ordinary folk than in any other country. The nations that have gone for freedom, justice and independence of people still have freedom and justice, and they have far more equality between their people, far more respect for each individual than the other nations. Go my way. You will get freedom and justice and much less difference between people than you do in the Soviet Union. Margaret Thatcher
Women have plenty of roles in which they can serve with distinction; some of us even run countries. But generally we are better at wielding the handbag than the bayonet.
Marxists get up early to further their cause. We must get up even earlier to defend our freedom. Margaret Thatcher
I usually make up my mind about a man in 10 seconds, and I very rarely change it.
When I’m out of politics I’m going to run a business, it’ll be called rent a spine. Margaret Thatcher
Being polite is very valuable these days while rudeness is priceless.
Many of our troubles are due to the fact that our people turn to politicians for everything. Margaret Thatcher
If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn’t swim.
Socialists cry Power to the people, and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean: power over people, power to the State. Margaret Thatcher
You do not have to agree in order to find common grounds with someone.
When you hold back the successful, you penalize those who need help. Margaret Thatcher
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.
Communist regimes were not some unfortunate aberration, some historical deviation from a socialist ideal. They were the ultimate expression, unconstrained by democratic and electoral pressures, of what socialism is all about. In short, the state is everything and the individual nothing. Margaret Thatcher
Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.
Do you know that one of the great problems of our age is that we are governed by people who care more about feelings than they do about thoughts and ideas. Margaret Thatcher
I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
Socialists have always spent much of their time seeking new titles for their beliefs, because the old versions so quickly become outdated and discredited. Margaret Thatcher
I love argument. I love debate. I don’t expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me that’s not their job.
Let us never forget this fundamental truth: the State has no source of money other than money which people earn themselves. If the State wishes to spend more it can do so only by borrowing your savings or by taxing you more. It is no good thinking that someone else will pay that ‘someone else’ is you. There is no such thing as public money; there is only taxpayers’ money. Margaret Thatcher
In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
The price of freedom is still, and always will be, eternal vigilance. Margaret Thatcher
I stand before you tonight in my Red Star chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up and my fair hair gently waved, the Iron Lady of the Western world. A cold war warrior, an Amazon philistine, even a Peking plotter Yes, if that’s how they wish to interpret my defense of values and freedoms fundamental to our way of life.
A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure. Margaret Thatcher
To those waiting with bated breath for that favorite media catchphrase, the U turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.
If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman. Margaret Thatcher
We have ceased to be a nation in retreat. We have instead a newfound confidence born in the economic battles at home and tested and found true 8,000 miles away.
Power is like being a lady, if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t. Margaret Thatcher
I like Mr. Gorbachev. We both believe in our own political systems. He firmly believes in his; I firmly believe in mine. We are never going to change one another. So that is not in doubt, but we have two great interests in common: that we should both do everything we can to see that war never starts again.
There are too many people who imagine that there is something sophisticated about always believing the best of those who hate your country, and the worst of those who defend it. Margaret Thatcher
This is a day I was not meant to see.
Communism produces neither dignity nor prosperity. It takes all power away from the people and places it in the hands of a self appointed elite. And because it distorts and manipulates the distinctive talents of individuals rather than letting those talents flourish, it prevents progress and prosperity. Margaret Thatcher
I think we have gone through a period when too many children and people have been given to understand, ‘I have a problem; it is the government’s job to cope with it!’ or ‘I have a problem; I will go and get a grant to cope with it’ and so they are casting their problems on society and who is society? There is no such thing! There are individual men and women and there are families, and no government can do anything except through people, and people look to themselves first.
I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left. Margaret Thatcher
It’s a funny old world.
My policies are based not on some economics theory, but on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; live within your means; put by a nest egg for a rainy day; pay your bills on time; support the police. Margaret Thatcher
I might have preferred iron, but bronze will do.
The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples’ money. Margaret Thatcher
Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.
Freedom is not synonymous with an easy life. There are many difficult things about freedom: It does not give you safety, it creates moral dilemmas for you; it requires self discipline; it imposes great responsibilities; but such is the nature of Man and in such consists his glory and salvation. Margaret Thatcher
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.
Europe will never be like America. Europe is a product of history. America is a product of philosophy. Margaret Thatcher
