Iron Lady Quotes

• I might have preferred iron - but bronze will do. It won't rust. This time I hope, the head will stay on.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Iron, Rust, Might

  "'Iron Lady' unveils her bronze statue", uk.reuters.com. February 22, 2007.

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Principles

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Leadership, Business, Women

  Margaret Thatcher, Iain Dale (1997). “As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations”, Robson Book Ltd

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• 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

  Inspirational, Father, Character

  153 Copy quote

• It's the Labour Government that have brought us record peacetime taxation. They've got the usual Socialist disease - they've run out of other people's money.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Running, Government, People

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• I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  Margaret Thatcher, Iain Dale (1997). “As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations”, Robson Book Ltd

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• If you make the tough decisions, people will hate you today. But they will thank you for generations.

  Meryl Streep

  Hate, People, Decision

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• I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Change, Leadership, Men

  Margaret Thatcher, Iain Dale (1997). “As I said to Denis--: the Margaret Thatcher book of quotations”, Robson Book Ltd

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• Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Philosophy, Europe, America

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• Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you tonight in my …  chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up, my fair hair gently waved, the Iron Lady of the Western world. Me? A Cold War warrior? … Well, yes — if that is how they wish to interpret my defense of values of freedoms fundamental to our way of life.

  Margaret Thatcher

  War, Iron, Hair

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Running, Freedom, Government

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Inspirational, Motivational, Positive

  1987 Interview, ABC TV, 18 Mar.

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• To me consensus seems to be - the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies in search of something in which no-one believes, but to which no-one objects.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Powerful, Believe, Principles

  Margaret Thatcher's speech at 1981 Sir Robert Menzies lecture at Blackwood Hall of Monash University in Melbourne, www.margaretthatcher.org. October 6, 1981.

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Leadership, Encouraging, Strong Women

  "The feminist who didn't want to be called one" by Christine Todd Whitman, www.politico.com. December 9, 2013.

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• Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Running, Country, Strong Women

  1979 Interviewed by the Observer four days after becoming Britain's first woman Prime Minister, 8 May.

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• No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Inspirational, Funny, Life

  Television interview, 6 Jan. 1986, in The Times 12 Jan. 1986

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Trying, Used, Used To Be

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• 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

  Mean, Rainy Day, Eggs

  "Cameron harks back to Thatcher over tax cuts" by Jenny Percival and Nicholas Watt, www.theguardian.com. May 19, 2008.

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Military, History, Nuclear Missiles

  Margaret Thatcher's speech at Soviet official banquet at St George's Halls, The Kremlin, www.margaretthatcher.org. March 30, 1987.

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• I like Mr Gorbachev, we can do business together.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Business, War, Together

  The Times 18 Dec. 1984

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Cutting, Want, Throat

  1986 Comment to Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, when he pressed for sanctions against South Africa. Quoted in Time, 7 Jul.

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• It pays to know the enemy - not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Friendship, Opportunity, Enemy

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• There is no such thing as society, there is a living tapestry of men and women and the beauty of that tapestry, and the quality of our lives, will depend upon how much each of us is prepared to take responsibility for ourselves and to turn round and help, by our own efforts, those who are unfortunate. There's no such thing as entitlement unless someone has first met an obligation

  Margaret Thatcher

  Responsibility, Men, Effort

  "Thatcher funeral address prompts Tory praise for bishop of London" by Patrick Wintour, www.theguardian.com. April 17, 2013.

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

  Margaret Thatcher

  Accomplish Nothing, Compromise, Be Prepared

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• I don't think there will be a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime.

  Margaret Thatcher

  Thinking, Lifetime, Prime

  "Val meets the V.I.P.s", www.margaretthatcher.org. March 5, 1973.

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