Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady of British politics, was the first female prime minister of Britain. She broke the glass ceiling by redefining the nation’s political and social landscape with her bold leadership, firm beliefs, and relentless determination. Here are the best Margaret Thatcher quotes from the woman who reshaped the position of the United Kingdom on the global front.
What is Margaret Thatcher famous for?
Margaret Thatcher was a Conservative Party politician and Europe’s first woman prime minister. She was Britain’s longest continuously serving prime minister of the 20th century, winning three consecutive terms from 1979-90.
Thatcher is regarded as one of the most influential leaders and is considered the most renowned British political leader since Winston Churchill. Known for her strong character and indomitable will, she had a profound impact on politics and society.
Throughout her tenure in office, she implemented several economic policies that became known as Thatcherism.
Her resolute foreign policy stance, sweeping economic reforms, and her principles made Britain a stronger and more prosperous nation.
Her journey from being a grocer’s daughter to the highest position of power serves as an inspiration for millions of people.
From her leadership in world politics to breaking through gender barriers, Thatcher has left a legacy of resilience, determination, and commitment that continues to influence political thought and economic policy.
These famous Margaret Thatcher quotes and sayings about change, freedom, politics, and more will inspire change and action in the world.
Top 10 Margaret Thatcher Quotes
- “Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.” — Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher Quotes - “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” — Margaret Thatcher
Quotes From Margaret Thatcher - “There can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty.” — Margaret Thatcher
Quotes By Margaret Thatcher - “Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.” — Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher Famous Quotes - “Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be earned here on earth.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” — Margaret Thatcher
Best Margaret Thatcher Quotes - “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” — Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher Socialism Quote - “It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families.” — Margaret Thatcher
Famous Quotes from Margaret Thatcher
- “You do not achieve anything without trouble, ever.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Being prime minister is a lonely job… you cannot lead from the crowd.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “I don’t mind how much my ministers talk, as long as they do what I say.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “I’ve got a woman’s ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Any leader has to have a certain amount of steel in them, so I am not that put out being called the Iron Lady.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “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
- “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
- “Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “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
- “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.” — Margaret Thatcher
Best Quotes Of Margaret Thatcher
- “The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Defeat? I do not recognise the meaning of the word.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Socialists are happy until they run out of other people’s money.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Of course it’s the same old story. Truth usually is the same old story.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “When I’m out of politics I’m going to run a business, it’ll be called rent-a-spine.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “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
- “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.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Every family should have the right to spend their money, after tax, as they wish, and not as the government dictates. Let us extend choice, extend the will to choose and the chance to choose.” — Margaret Thatcher
Inspirational Margaret Thatcher Quotes
- “Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “It used to be about trying to do something. Now it’s about trying to be someone.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn’t swim.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “One of the things being in politics has taught me is that men are not a reasoned or reasonable sex.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.” — 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.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “The wisdom of hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly denied to practicing politicians.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Freedom will destroy itself if it is not exercised within some sort of moral framework, some body of shared beliefs, some spiritual heritage transmitted through the Church, the family, and the school.” — Margaret Thatcher
Positive Margaret Thatcher Quotes
- “I was not lucky. I deserved it.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “If you set out to be liked, you will accomplish nothing.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Constitutions have to be written on hearts, not just paper.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “It may be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the eggs.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “You don’t tell deliberate lies, but sometimes you have to be evasive.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “A world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “People think that at the top there isn’t much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “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.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “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,” — Margaret Thatcher
- “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
More About Margaret Thatcher’s Life
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was a British stateswoman and Leader of the Conservative Party. She served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.
Born on on 13 October 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, to Alfred Roberts, a grocer and local alderman, and Beatrice Ethel Stephenson, Thatcher had a desire to become a politician from a very young age.
Married to Denis Thatcher, a wealthy industrialist, the couple had twins, a son and a daughter. Her husband supported her political ambition.
Being the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, Thatcher was a polarizing figure in the British politics. Nonetheless she is viewed favorably in historical rankings and public opinion of British prime ministers.
She died of a stroke at the Ritz Hotel, London, at the age of 87, in 2013.
Conclusion
What are your favorite Margaret Thatcher quotes and sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
Also, check our collection of Theodore Roosevelt quotes and Eleanor Roosevelt quotes to inspire and motivate you.
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