Margaret Hilda Thatcher (1925–2013,) also identified by the title Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, was a British Conservative stateswoman who served as Britain’s prime minister 1979–90. She is celebrated as one of the greatest and the most influential politicians in British history.
For more than a decade, Thatcher enjoyed almost unchallenged political mastery, winning three consecutive general elections. Nicknamed “The Iron Lady” as early as 1976, Thatcher became known for her willpower and her emphasis on individual responsibility and enterprise. Her time in office was marked by monetarist policies, privatization of nationalized industries, and legislation of trade unions. The direction she pursued with intense energy and steadfast will brought about a transformation of Britain’s economic performance.
In retirement, Thatcher became a member of the House of Lords in 1992 and raised funds for her Thatcher Foundation. She also wrote her best-selling memoirs, The Downing Street Years (1993) and The Path to Power (1995.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Margaret Thatcher
Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Fashion
You may have to fight a battle more than once to win.
—Margaret Thatcher
Of course, it is the same old story. Truth usually is the same old story.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Truth
Pennies do not come from heaven—they have to be earned here on earth.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Work, Luck
I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Opinions, Opinion
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 when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.
—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
Topics: Achievement, Success & Failure
There are no personal sympathies in politics.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Politics
If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn’t swim.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Criticism
The battle for women’s rights has been largely won.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Equality
I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Patience
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
Topics: Persistence, Perseverance
I don’t mind how much my ministers talk—as long as they do what I say.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Conversation
If you lead a country like Britain, a strong country, a country which has taken a lead in world affairs in good times and in bad, a country that is always reliable, then you have to have a touch of iron about you.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Leaders, Leadership
I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Agreement
To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Agreement
If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.
—Margaret Thatcher
Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: America
A world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Weapon
I owe nothing to Women’s Lib.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Feminism, Luck, Women
I love being at the center of things.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Power
Democratic nations must try to find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Nation
Women have plenty of roles in which they can serve with distinction: some of us even run countries. But generally we are better at wielding the handbag than the bayonet.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Women
No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Purpose, Intentions
Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Commitment, Dedication
To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Heart
Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Home
This lady is not for turning.
—Margaret Thatcher
Topics: Perseverance, Persistence
Home is where you come to when you have nothing better to do.
—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
Topics: Opportunity
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Winston Churchill British Head of State
Enoch Powell British Politician
Harold Macmillan British Head of State
Benjamin Disraeli British Head of State
William Ewart Gladstone English Liberal Statesman
Neville Chamberlain British Head of State
Ramsay MacDonald British Head of State
David Lloyd George British Liberal Statesman
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax British Politician
Indira Gandhi Indian Head of State