10 Greatest Quotes from Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was the only woman to become a prime minister of the United Kingdom, and also the longest serving prime minister of the country in the 20th century, being in office since 1979 until 1990. Because of her leadership style and uncompromising politics, she was called by a Soviet journalist as the “Iron Lady,” a nickname that since, has been attributed to great women in politics (for example, chancellor of Germany — Angela Merkel).

Photo Credit: ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER

Thatcher, born Robins was born on October 13, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Her father was Mayor of Graham in 1945-56. Despite the fact that he was coming from a Liberal family, he stood as an Independent (it was then customary in local government). Serving as an alderman and local preacher at the local Methodist church, Alfred Roberts raised his daughter as a strict Methodist. Margaret Robins graduated from Oxford in 1946, with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree.

Also, in 1946, she became the President of the Oxford University Conservative Association. She was influenced by political works such as “The Road to Serfdom” by Friedrich von Hayek, where government’s economic intervention was condemned as a precursor to an authoritarian state.

So, Margaret Thatcher didn’t know from the start that she wants to become involved in politics. Originally she worked as a research chemist for BX Plastics and only later became a barrister (lawyer specialized in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings, and giving expert legal opinions). In 1959 she was elected as Member of Parliament for Finchley (a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the UK). In 1979 she became the Prime Minister of Great Britain, after becoming the leader of the Conservative Party in  1975 and Leader of the Opposition until 1979.

On April 8, 2013, Margaret Thatcher, died following a stroke. She will not have a state funeral (it was her wish) but she will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana or the Queen Mother.

In order to commemorate her, we have compiled her ten greatest quotes: