There are always dangers about. Therefore you must always keep your defences strong.
Margaret ThatcherThe Third World is very much like the First World - just poorer: what works for the West will work for the rest as well.
Margaret ThatcherIt is your tax which pays for public spending. The government have no money of their own. There is only taxpayers' money.
Margaret ThatcherJohn Gummer just did not have the political clout or credibility to rally the troops. I had appointed him as a sort of nightwatchman, but he seemed to have to sleep on the job.
Margaret ThatcherI do believe that political arrangements which are based upon violence, intimidation and theft will eventually break down - and will deserve to do so.
Margaret ThatcherCountries trade with each other - or to be more precise people buy and sell from each other across frontiers - because that is the way to advance their interests. We do not need to beg people to trade with us - as long as we have something that people want, of a quality they expect and at a price they are prepared to pay.
Margaret ThatcherEurope will never be like America. Europe is a product of history. America is a product of philosophy.
Margaret ThatcherMany of our troubles are due to the fact that our people turn to politicians for everything.
Margaret ThatcherWe speak of peace, yes, but whose peace? Poland's? Bulgaria's? The peace of the grave?
Margaret ThatcherBut the whole history of America is quite different from Europe. People went there to get away from the intolerance and constraints of life in Europe. They sought liberty and opportunity; and their strong sense of purpose has over two centuries, helped create a new unity and pride in being American.
Margaret ThatcherStanding in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.
Margaret ThatcherI'm back... and you knew I was coming. On my way here I passed a cinema with the sign 'The Mummy Returns'.
Margaret ThatcherThere is much to be said for trying to improve some disadvantaged people’s lot. There is nothing to be said for trying to create heaven on earth.
Margaret ThatcherI 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 ThatcherWe were told our campaign wasn't sufficiently slick. We regard that as a compliment.
Margaret ThatcherOught we not to ask the media to agree among themselves a voluntary code of conduct, under which they would not say or show anything which could assist the terrorists' morale or their cause while the hijack lasted.
Margaret ThatcherWe must not fall into the mistake of thinking that it is America that trades with Taiwan or Europe that trades with Asia. The truth is that it is American companies that trade with Taiwanese companies.
Margaret ThatcherIs there conscience in the Kremlin? Do they ever ask themselves what is the purpose of life? What is it all for?... No. Their creed is barren of conscience, immune to the promptings of good and evil.
Margaret ThatcherIt took us a long time to get rid of the effects of the French Revolution 200 years ago. We don't want another one.
Margaret ThatcherWhy do you climb philosophical hills? Because they are worth climbing . . . There are no hills to go down unless you start from the top.
Margaret ThatcherWe introduced the Community Charge. I still call it that. I like the Poles - I never had any intention of taxing them.
Margaret ThatcherBeing democratic is not enough, a majority cannot turn what is wrong into right. In order to be considered truly free, countries must also have a deep love of liberty and an abiding respect for the rule of law.
Margaret ThatcherIt is one of the great weaknesses of reasonable men and women that they imagine that projects which fly in the face of commonsense are not serious or being seriously undertaken.
Margaret ThatcherFreedom 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 ThatcherIn those days one advantage of being a woman was that there was a basic courtesy towards us on which we could draw - something which today's feminists have largely dissipated.
Margaret ThatcherAnd what a prize we have to fight for: no less than the chance to banish from our land the dark divisive clouds of Marxist socialism.
Margaret ThatcherYou don't win by just being against things, you only win by being for things and making your message perfectly clear.
Margaret ThatcherIt is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake.
Margaret ThatcherYou know the critical thing with the Communist countries is Communism, which by definition consists of control by the government.
Margaret ThatcherGentlemen, I have spent the night thinking about this Peruvian (peace) initiative and I have to tell you that if it is your decision to accept then you will have to find another Prime Minister.
Margaret ThatcherThere are some remarkable parallels between basketball and politics. Michael Jordan has already mastered the skill most needed for political success: how to stay aloft without visible means of support.
Margaret ThatcherIt's the Labour Government that have brought us record peacetime taxation. They've got the usual Socialist disease - they've run out of other people's money.
Margaret ThatcherThe Kosovo campaign was a just and necessary war. And I believe that Blair - of whom I have many criticisms - in this case showed real determination in conducting it.
Margaret ThatcherThis business of the working class is on its way out I think. After all, aren't I working class? I work jolly hard, I can tell you.
Margaret Thatcher