Margaret Thatcher (the former British Prime Minster) passed away at age 87 today. She was globally known as “The Iron Lady” (a nickname given to her by the Soviets and associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership style) and widely regarded as a huge inspiration to women.

She was born in 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire in the UK. She spent her childhood in this town – her father owned two grocery shops there. In the 1950 and 1951 general elections in the UK she was the Conservative candidate for Dartford – she attracted media attention as the youngest and the only female candidate.

Margaret Thatcher was a member of the British parliament from 1959 to 1970, the British Education secretary from 1970 to 1974 and the leader of the Opposition from 1975 to 1979. She became the British Prime Minister in 1979 and stayed in this position until 1990. She effectively retired from politics in 1992 (at age 66). Her life was depicted in the 2012 film The Iron Lady – Meryl Streep portrayed the role of Margaret Thatcher in the film.

I remember seeing Margaret Thatcher many times on South African television when I was a child. She was one of the strongest prime ministers that the UK ever had. We may not have agreed with ALL her political views, but you have to respect her as a politician and as a leader.

Today I’m honoring her memory with this collection of Margaret Thatcher quotes. RIP Iron Lady

“To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say, you turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.”

“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.”

“It will be years – and not in my time – before a woman will lead the party or become prime minister.”

“Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.”

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

“I think I have become a bit of an institution – you know, the sort of thing people expect to see around the place”

“I would just like to remember some words of St. Francis of Assisi which I think are really just particularly apt at the moment. ‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.”

“Ronnie and I got to know each other at a time when we were both in Opposition, and when a good many people intended to keep us there. They failed, and the conservative 1980s were the result. But in a certain sense, we remained an opposition, we were never the establishment. As Ron once put it: the nine most dangerous words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’ As usual, he was right.” (on Ronald Reagan).

“Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.”

“What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.”

“Power is like being a lady… if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”

“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.”

“I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it.”

“A world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us.”

“I’ve got a woman’s ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it.”

“I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.”

“It pays to know the enemy – not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend.”

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

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

“Those who believe South Africa will one day be ruled by the ANC are living in cloud cuckoo land.” (She was obviously wrong about this – she actually called the ANC a terrorist organization on many occasions).

“I never hugged him, I bombed him.” (Said while watching old TV footage of Tony Blair embracing Colonel Gaddafi, at a reception in House of Commons in March 2011)

“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”

“Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people’s money. It’s quite a characteristic of them.”

There you go, a collection of Margaret Thatcher Quotes. Feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Remember: Sharing is Caring.

Watch this space for regular updates in the Quotes category on Running Wolf’s Rant.