A man may climb Everest for himself, but at the summit he plants his country’s flag.
Margaret Thatcher
- Life
- 1925-2013
- Occupations
- politician, chemist, autobiographer
Facts: Wikidata (CC0), as of 2026-07-09
'Being in power is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't' is quoted constantly and sourced almost never -- it circulates in power/lady variants with no reliable first citation in her speeches. The documented Thatcher is easy to find instead: 'I fight on, I fight to win' is from the November 1990 leadership contest, days before she resigned.
Being in power is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.
Margaret Thatcher
Constitutions have to be written on hearts, not just paper.
Margaret Thatcher
Defeat—I do not recognise the meaning of the word!
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
For my part, I favour an approach to statecraft that embraces principles, as long as it is not stifled by them; and I prefer such principles to be accompanied by steel along with good intentions.
Margaret Thatcher
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
I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society — from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.
Margaret Thatcher
I can’t bear Britain in decline. I just can’t.
Margaret Thatcher
I fight on, I fight to win.
Margaret Thatcher
In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.
Margaret Thatcher
It is a great night. It is the end of Socialism.
Margaret Thatcher
It is always important in matters of high politics to know what you do not know. Those who think they know, but are mistaken, and act upon their mistakes, are the most dangerous people to have in charge.
Margaret Thatcher
It was a lovely morning. We have not had many lovely days. And the sun was just coming through the stained glass windows and falling on some flowers right across the church and it just occurred to me that this was the day I was meant not to see.
Margaret Thatcher
Never believe that technology alone will allow America to prevail as a superpower.
Margaret Thatcher
Oh, but you know, you do not achieve anything without trouble, ever.
Margaret Thatcher
Pennies don’t fall from heaven, they have to be earned here on earth.
Margaret Thatcher
Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people’s money. It’s quite a characteristic of them.
Margaret Thatcher
We must try to find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend.
Margaret Thatcher
What government has to do is to set the framework for human talent to flourish.
Margaret Thatcher
Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.
Margaret Thatcher
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!
Margaret Thatcher
You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.
Margaret Thatcher