Margaret Thatcher Quotes

Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.

If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.

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.

If you set out to be liked, you will accomplish nothing.

To wear your heart on your sleeve isn't a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.

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.

Each generation has to stand up for democracy. It can't take anything for granted and may have to fight fundamental battles anew.

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.

If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.

A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure.

The wisdom of hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly denied to practicing politicians.

If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn't swim.

The government has no money of its own. It's all your money.

Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't.

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.

For every idealistic peacemaker willing to renounce his self-defence in favour of a weapons-free world, there is at least one warmaker anxious to exploit the other's good intentions.

What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money.

Don't follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.

You don't win by just being against things, you only win by being for things and making your message perfectly clear.

The first step in calculating which way to go is to find out where you are.

Socialists have always spent much of their time seeking new titles for their beliefs, because the old versions so quickly become outdated and discredited.

Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.

Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be earned here on earth.

We will stand on principle or we will not stand at all.

I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air.

The feminists hate me, don't they? And I don't blame them. For I hate feminism. It is poison.

A man may climb Everest for himself, but at the summit he plants his country's flag.

There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families.

Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.

Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day you've had everything to do and you've done it.

A world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us.

No Western nation has to build a wall round itself to keep its people in.

Europe will never be like America. Europe is a product of history. America is a product of philosophy.

I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.

The price of freedom is still, and always will be, eternal vigilance.

If you want to cut your own throat, don't come to me for a bandage.

I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near.

No great goal was ever easily achieved.

I wouldn't be worth my salt if I weren't attracting some controversy and criticism. Everyone in the world who has done something in life has attracted criticism.

You do not achieve anything without trouble, ever.

The Labour Party believes in turning workers against owners; we believe in turning workers into owners.

Leadership is about having principles. A leader must have a vision and principles that will endure for all time and must always be true to these principles, applying them to changing circumstances

When I'm out of politics I'm going to run a business, it'll be called rent-a-spine

Many of our troubles are due to the fact that our people turn to politicians for everything.

I am not a consensus politician. Im a conviction politician.

It used to be about trying to do something. Now it's about trying to be someone.

The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build.

The desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training. The manner of winning is a matter of honour.

History has taught us that freedom cannot long survive unless it is based on moral foundations. You can get the economics right, but in addition liberty must be cultivated as a moral quality.