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Margaret Thatcher Quotes - Page 19

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You can present people with ideas they may come to believe in, and as a result of them they will act, if they have the opportunities. Presenting people with opportunities is part of what politics is about.

You can present people with ideas they may come to believe in, and as a result of them they will act, if they have the opportunities. Presenting people with opportunities is part of what politics is about.

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

Human rights did not begin with the French Revolution...[they] really stem from a mixture of Judaism and Christianity...[we English] had 1688, our quiet revolution, where Parliament exerted its will over the King...it was not the sort of Revolution that France's was...'Liberty, equality, fraternity' - they forgot obligations and duties I think. And then of course the fraternity went missing for a long time.

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

I believe that the royal family are a focus of patriotism, of loyalty, of affection and of esteem. That is a rare combination, and we should value it highly.

Margaret Thatcher
Loyalty, Believe, Focus
"Civil List". publications.parliament.uk.

Never believe that technology alone will allow America to prevail as a superpower.

Margaret Thatcher
Believe, Technology, America
"Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World". Book by Margaret Thatcher (p. 47), April 16, 2002.

But if Saddam had been in a position credibly to threaten America or any of its allies - or the coalition's forces - with attack by missiles with nuclear warheads, would we have gone to the Gulf at all?

Margaret Thatcher
America, Allies, Nuclear
"Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World". Book by Margaret Thatcher (p. 49), April 16, 2002.

It is in a country's interests to keep faith with its allies. States in this sense are like people. If you have a reputation for exacting favors and not returning them, the favours dry up.

Margaret Thatcher
Country, Dry Up, People

If the Europeans truly wish to improve their NATO contribution they can show it simply enough. They can establish professional armed forces, like those of the UK. And they can acquire more advanced technology. Indeed, unless that happens soon the gulf between the European and US capabilities will yawn so wide that it will not be possible to share the same battlefield. Alas, I do not think that sharing battlefields with our American friends - but rather disputing global primacy with them - is what European defence plans are truly about.

Margaret Thatcher
Technology, Thinking, Wish

I would not wish to be Prime Minister, dear.

Margaret Thatcher
Ironic, Wish, Prime

I can cope with nine of them, so they ought to be able to stand one of me. They could end the tiresomeness and stubbornness by giving me what I want.

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

I too have a certain idea of America. Moreover, I would not feel entitled to say that of any other country, except my own. This is not just sentiment, though I always feel ten years younger – despite the jet-lag – when I set foot on American soil: there is something so positive, generous, and open about the people – and everything actually works. I also feel, though, that I have in a sense a share of America.

Margaret Thatcher
Country, Feet, America

I have made it quite clear that a unified Ireland was one solution that is out. A second solution was a confederation of two states. That is out. A third solution was joint authority. That is out-that is a derogation of sovereignty.

Margaret Thatcher
Two, Government, Politics

It is absolutely right that President Reagan considers SDI and thank goodness people considered nuclear research before the last war.

Margaret Thatcher
War, People, President

You know the critical thing with the Communist countries is Communism, which by definition consists of control by the government.

Margaret Thatcher
Country, Government, Definitions

Any attempts by any government to change Community legislation to its own wishes are doomed to failure following the extension of policy areas now subject to majority voting... In our opinion, this must have serious implications for the traditional view of Parliament as a legislative body sovereignty.

Margaret Thatcher
Government, Views, Europe

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.

I want a capital-earning democracy. Every man and woman a capitalist. Housing is the start. If you're a man or woman of property, you've got something. So every man a capitalist, and every man a man of property.

Margaret Thatcher
Men, Democracy, Want

I just owe almost everything to my father and it's passionately interesting for me that the things that I learned in a small town, in a very modest home, are just the things that I believe have won the election.

Margaret Thatcher
Family, Daughter, Fathers Day

I think our support for the EEC has been very half-hearted. You really cannot join any group of nations and spend all your time criticising it. The EEC is free Europe getting together. Had we had some vision like that after the first world war , we might never had the second ... my son does not have to go and fight as his father had to fight. Surely that is the most valuable thing of all, the reason for keeping Europe together.

Margaret Thatcher
Father, War, Fighting
"In her own words" by Julian Glover, www.theguardian.com. March 22, 2002.

I must be absolutely clear about this. Britain cannot accept the present situation on the Budget. It is demonstrably unjust. It is politically indefensible: I cannot play Sister Bountiful to the Community while my own electorate are being asked to forego improvements in the fields of health, education, welfare and the rest.

Margaret Thatcher
Health Education, Europe, Play
"Europe - the obligations of liberty". Margaret Thatcher's Winston Churchill Memorial Lecture regarding the UK's contribution to the European Community budget, October 18, 1979.

Yes, the Commission wants to increase its powers, Yes, it is a non-elected body and I do not want the Commission to increase its powers at the expense of the House, so of course we differ. The President of the Commission, Mr Delors, said at a press conference the other day that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the Community. He wanted the Commission to be the Executive and he wanted the Council of Ministers to be the Senate. No! No! No!

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

If there is one instance in which a foreign policy I pursued met with unambiguous failure, it was my policy on German reunification.

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

Hope is no basis for a defense policy.

Margaret Thatcher
Defense, Cold War, Bases

Please don't use the word tough. People might get the impression that I don't care. And I do care, very deeply. Resilient, I think.

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

The acid test of politics is not what you say at the hustings, but what you actually do in government.

Margaret Thatcher
Government, Tests, Acid

All the general propositions favouring freedom I had .. imbibed at my father's knee or acquired by candle-end reading of Burke and Hayek...

Margaret Thatcher
Father, Reading, Knees
"The Path to Power". Book by Margaret Thatcher (p. 604), 1995.

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