11 notable Margaret Thatcher quotes
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died at age 87. The "Iron Lady" has made many memorable statements over the years; here are some of the more notable Thatcher quotes:
1. "In politics, if you want anything said ask a man, if you want anything done ask a woman." (from a May 1965 speech to the National Union of Townswomen's Guilds Conference)
2. "Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them." (from a February 1976 interview for Thames TV)
3. "Pennies don't fall from heaven, they have to be earned here on earth." (from a November 1979 speech at Lord Mayor's Banquet)
4. "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. The lady's not turning." (from an October 1980 speech to the Conservative Party Conference)
5. "I am extraordinarily patient -- provided I get my own way in the end." (from a March 1982 European Council meeting)
6. "Defeat -- I do not know the meaning of the word!" (talking about the 1982 Falkand Islands conflict)
7. "Oh, but you know, you do not achieve anything without trouble, ever." (from a November 1984 interview with ITN in Paris)
8. "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!' 'I am homeless, the Government must house me!' 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. [...] There is no such thing as society. There is living tapestry of men and women and people and hte 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 each of us prepared to turn round and help by our own efforts those who are unfortunate." (from a September 1987 interview to Woman's Own)
9. "You know, if you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything, wouldn't you, at any time? And you would achieve nothing!" (from a May 1989 Press Association interview)
10. "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." (Commonly attributed to Thatcher, though the source and context of the remark are unclear)
11. "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." (Another quote commonly attributed to Thatcher, though the source and context are unclear)