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Thatcher quotes, Thatcher style — 12 Comments

  1. The biggest problem about conservative bumper stickers is it’s a good way to get your car keyed.

  2. Ms. Thatcher must have been equally adept in administering the private ‘touche’ and ‘coup de gré¢ce’. When in conversation with Chris Hitchens about some political point, Mr Hitchens had conceded to a minor point she had made with just a hint of a bow, she commanded “bow lower”. The power of her charm and the charm of her power when recognized by such as Hitchens makes all the attacks against her, to this day, seem more than childish — they are infantile. Here is the link to Hitchens’ great piece The Iron Lady’s Sex Appeal (and a good word for Jeanne Kirkpatrick, not politically, of course, but intellectually).

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-hitchens/margaret-thatcher-iron-lady_b_1199269.html

  3. There’s no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.

    Not heard that one before; it’s especially good because it’s clear as a bell and sticks.

    Besides being smart as a whip and having deeply understood and held beliefs, I think Thatcher’s secret was her actorly flourish. Which requires great ego, as well as practice.

  4. Ann: I didn’t put this in the post, but I also think she had the courage of her absolute conviction of her own correctness. She believed she had thoroughly thought it through, and she believed she was absolutely right (as in, “correct”). No relativism for that lady!

    So many of our conservative leaders don’t have that sort of confidence—or it they have confidence, it comes across as obnoxious arrogance. Of course, many found Thatcher to be obnoxiously arrogant, but I don’t think she was. Or maybe she could just carry it off because of, as you say, her actorly flourish (also, it helps a lot to be British, I think).

  5. Here are some other delectable Thatcher-isms to cherish;

    “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money to spend”

    “It is always important in matters of high politics to know what you do not know. Those who think that they know, but are mistaken, and act upon their mistakes, are the most dangerous people to have in charge.” —

    “Rogue states never turn out to be quite the pariahs they are deemed. They are only able to cause, or at least threaten to cause, mayhem because they enjoy the covert support – usually by means of technology transfers – of one or more major powers within the charmed circle of global ‘good guys’.”

    “When all the objectives of government include the achievement of equality – other than equality before the law – that government poses a threat to liberty.”

    “If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn’t swim.”

    “It may be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the eggs.”

    “If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.”

    “No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money as well.”

    “Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus.”

    “Of course it’s the same old story. Truth usually is the same old story.”

    “Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be earned here on earth.”

    “When they attack one personally, it means they haven’t a single political argument left.” —

    “I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air.”

  6. “G Joubert Says:
    February 22nd, 2013 at 2:00 pm
    The biggest problem about conservative bumper stickers is it’s a good way to get your car keyed”

    Years ago, I had a Bush 41 sticker in my back glass (bumper stickers won’t come off bumpers). While in the grocery, someone put a soiled diaper on the decklid next to the sticker. At least it didn’t leave a mark.

  7. “I also think she had the courage of her absolute conviction of her own correctness. She believed she had thoroughly thought it through, and she believed she was absolutely right (as in, “correct”).”

    That is why there was a natural affinity between Maggie and Ronnie. They thought it through. I can not hate ‘liberals’ but I do think they need to be restrained via Jim Nicholas’s call for protecting them (and us) from the consequences of their actions.

  8. I like “Don’t go wobbly on me, George.” As the Argies learned, she was a tough lady of principle.

  9. Yes, both Thatcher and Reagan had thought it through and their conservative principles were deep within their bones. And they were both superb communicators. Reagan from a life in radio, film, and TV. Thatcher from having been very well educated in the use of language as many Brits seem to be.

    It always seems to me that the well educated Brits are much more precise in their use of words than we Yanks. Could this be why she was able to distill conservative principles into effective statements that communicated their essence so quickly – i.e. bumper sticker slogans?

    The Republicans could do worse than using her quotes over and over again as mantras to get the anti-statist argument established.

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