Margaret Thatcher

Quotes are word for word from the source.

• Practical thinking

  “Don't be scared of the high language of economists and Cabinet ministers, but think of politics at our own household level.”

  Our noteShe was speaking to Conservative women about facing up to the current economic position.

• Early advantages

  “I started life with two great advantages: no money, and good parents.”

  Our noteShe was responding to whether she understood the problems of ordinary people.

• Unstoppable persistence

  “I shall never stop fighting. I mean this country to survive, to prosper and to be free.”

  Our noteExpressing her determination to fight against destructive forces.

• Conviction over consensus

  “I am a conviction politician. The Old Testament prophets didn't say, 'Brothers, I want a consensus.' They said, 'This is my faith, this is what I passionately believe. If you believe it too, then come with me.”

  Our noteSpeaking at a Conservative Rally in Cardiff about her political style.

• Resistance to persuasion

  “Don't try persuading me, you know I find persuasion very counterproductive.”

  Our noteRemarking to the President of the European Commission during a meeting.

• Risks of inaction

  “When you stop a dictator there are always risks but there are great risks in not stopping a dictator. My generation learned that a long time ago.”

  Our noteJustifying the military response to the invasion of the Falkland Islands.

• Achievement through trouble

  “Oh, but you know, you do not achieve anything without trouble, ever.”

  Our noteShe was discussing the necessity of facing difficulties to achieve goals.

• Individual Responsibility

  “There is no such thing as society. There is living tapestry of men and women and people”

  Our noteEmphasizing personal responsibility over reliance on the state.

• Decentralized Power

  “success depends on dispersing power and decisions away from the centre”

  Our noteCritiquing the centralization of power within the European Community.

• Demanding fairness

  “We weren't getting a fair deal on the budget and I wasn't going to have it.”

  Our noteDiscussing the UK's contribution to the EEC budget.

• Incentives for growth

  “Your gap goes up, it does go up, but the whole thing moves up the gap, you must give people incentive!”

  Our noteDiscussing the gap between rich and poor during her time as Prime Minister.

• Freedom and responsibility

  “When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society, but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free.”

  Our noteReflecting on the fall of Athens and the dangers of state paternalism.

• Trust in individuals

  “That is to say, we placed far greater confidence in individuals, families, businesses and neighbourhoods than in the State.”

  Our noteExplaining her preference for liberal conservatism over collectivism.

• Hiring energetic talent

  “In fact I just wanted a Cabinet of clever, energetic people - and frequently that turned out to be the same thing.”

  Our noteDiscussing the composition of her staff and Cabinet.

• Benefits of free trade

  “Free trade provided a means not only for poorer countries to earn foreign currency and increase their peoples' standards of living. It was also a force for peace, freedom and political decentralization”

  Our noteOutlining the strategic importance of global free trade.

• Eternal vigilance

  “I now know that such arguments are never finally won.”

  Our noteReflecting on the ongoing battle for orthodox finance and low regulation.

• Clear goals

  “Don't believe that military interventions, no matter how morally justified, can succeed without clear military goals”

  Our noteSetting guidelines for successful strategic interventions.

• Effective study

  “The main contribution one can make as a student to one's country in peace or wartime is to study hard and effectively.”

  Our noteOn the responsibility of students to their country.

• Avoid temporary fixes

  “Patched-up diplomatic solutions designed to answer the needs of the moment rarely last, and as they unravel they can actually make things worse.”

  Our noteCritiquing short-term solutions that fail to address underlying problems.