A world without nuclear weapons may be a dream but you cannot base a sure defence on dreams. Without far greater trust and confidence between East and West than exists at present, a world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us.

Margaret Thatcher

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money.

Margaret Thatcher

freedom government running

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

motivational inspirational love

Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become your character. And watch your character for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become. My father always said that... and I think I am fine.

Margaret Thatcher

inspirational character father

What we should grasp, however, from the lessons of European history is that, first, there is nothing necessarily benevolent about programmes of European integration; second, the desire to achieve grand utopian plans often poses a grave threat to freedom; and third, European unity has been tried before, and the outcome was far from happy.

Margaret Thatcher

strong-women freedom europe

Let us never forget this fundamental truth: the State has no source of money other than money which people earn themselves. If the State wishes to spend more it can do so only by borrowing your savings or by taxing you more. It is no good thinking that someone else will pay - that 'someone else' is you. There is no such thing as public money; there is only taxpayers' money.

Margaret Thatcher

wish people thinking

A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure.

Margaret Thatcher

bus age men

In my work, you get used to criticisms. Of course you do, because there are a lot of people trying to get you down, but I always cheer up immensely if one is particularly wounding because I think well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left. That is why my father always taught me: never worry about anyone who attacks you personally; it means their arguments carry no weight and they know it.

Margaret Thatcher

cheer mean father

There are too many people who imagine that there is something sophisticated about always believing the best of those who hate your country, and the worst of those who defend it.

Margaret Thatcher

hate believe country

I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near.

Margaret Thatcher

motivational positive inspirational

Socialists cry “Power to the people”, and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean - power over people, power to the State.

Margaret Thatcher

fists mean people

(A unified) 'Europe' is the result of plans. It is, in fact, a classic utopian project, a monument to the vanity of intellectuals, a programme whose inevitable destiny is failure: only the scale of the final damage done is in doubt.

Margaret Thatcher

failure destiny europe

The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build.

Margaret Thatcher

family love life

If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.

Margaret Thatcher

wise inspirational funny

If you set out to be liked, you will accomplish nothing.

Margaret Thatcher

accomplish-nothing be-prepared compromise

Don't follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.

Margaret Thatcher

following-the-crowd powerful leadership

Good Conservatives always pay their bills. And on time. Not like the Socialists who run up other people's bills.

Margaret Thatcher

debt running people

When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.

Margaret Thatcher

tyrants risk war

Socialists have always spent much of their time seeking new titles for their beliefs, because the old versions so quickly become outdated and discredited.

Margaret Thatcher

outdated titles belief

We will stand on principle or we will not stand at all.

Margaret Thatcher

iron-lady principles

History has taught us that freedom cannot long survive unless it is based on moral foundations. You can get the economics right, but in addition liberty must be cultivated as a moral quality.

Margaret Thatcher

taught-us liberty long