Margaret Thatcher Quotes

Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his unilateralist crew, most of the people laughing at us do not think we are evil. What they think is that we are naive and incompetent.

Bush doesn't present himself as a realpolitik politician.

To deal with the true causes of war one must begin by recognizing as of prime relevancy to the solution of the problem the familiar fact that civilization is a partial, incomplete, and, to a great extent, superficial modification of barbarism.

When you're out of office, you can be a statesman.

No man can be a politician, except he be first a historian or a traveller; for except he can see what must be, or what may be, he is no politician.

A statesman cannot afford to be a moralist.

… realpolitik

He who is involved in realpolitik must think only of the last twenty-four hours.

It is in vain to say that enlightened statesmen will always be able to adjust their interests. Enlightened men will not always be at the helm.

[Describing Russia:] ... the most realistic regime in the world—no ideals.

Every statesman must attempt to reconcile what is considered just with what is considered possible.

Japan, is all in favor of the League of Nations, but as a matter of practical politics, as things are, she can no more accept the idea of an independent Korea than Great Britain can afford to recognize an independent Irish Republic

At home you always have to be a politician. When you're abroad you almost feel yourself a statesman.

How splendid it would have been had we blazed a new and better trail! However, it is to be doubted whether this could have been done, even if those in authority had so decreed, for the peoples back of them had to be reckoned with. It may be that Wilson might have had the power and influence if he had remained in Washington and kept clear of the Conference. When he stepped from his lofty pedestal and wrangled with representatives of other states upon equal terms, he became as common clay.

In politics, reality is that which is unseen. Politics is the art of combining a nation’s diverse or opposing factors to the benefit of its domestic well-being, and of saving the country from the open enmity or covetous friendship of other nations.

If we approach the war on terrorism with the fervor of a Christian jihad against Islam, our battle is already lost, for we have become what we opposed and we are now the fundamentalists…. My comfort and liberty must not be won by the sacrifices of a new and foreign poor now paying the price for our moral failings of diplomacy. economy and statesmanship, turning our Republic into an Empire.

Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no loaf. Among modern statesmen it really seems to mean that half a loaf is better than a full loaf.

I don't think it is so difficult to solve the problems between Cuba and the United States; it all depends on whether there is a dialogue, a discussion, or if the prejudices and hatred of people like the extremists and terrorists from the Cuban community, who try to impose their policies, prevail.

It's fair to say that the policy and character of my government would be, or the government which I lead, would be very different to that of President Trump.

President Obama has proven himself to be a terrible negotiator. I don't support any trade deal negotiated by his administration.

I don't know what politicians are like, but I imagine, having played one, that you have to have a really wide view of the world. You have to think globally; you can't think small.

I think Donald Trump knows the kind of leadership that we [Americans] need at home and abroad.

I do think that it's really important for leaders of countries to be very clear and careful in the statements they make because their words are weighed extremely carefully by other countries, and you have to create a continuity of seriousness and of credibility in order to be able to be taken seriously and get things done.

Trump respects people who are selfish about their country. Putin is a guy who is very selfish about Russia and about the Russian federation, and he understands the history of his country. You can't say, "I don't like you." You've got to respect him. He's a world leader.

No man can do both effective and decent work in public life unless he is a practical politician on the one hand, and a sturdy believer in Sunday-school politics on the other. He must always strive manfully for the best, and yet, like Abraham Lincoln, must often resign himself to accept the best possible.