The quotable Thatcher: 15 of her best quips

The quotable Thatcher: 15 of her best quips:

NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell – who interviewed former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on a number of occasions – shares her impressions of the only woman to hold the post.

Margaret Thatcher, enemy of socialism and the first woman to become prime minister of Britain, will be remembered as a strong leader, but also as one of the most quotable politicians in recent memory. Here's are some her of best quips:
"I don't think there will be a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime." (BBC, 3/5/73)
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."  (Thames TV, 2/5/76)

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"Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country." (BBC, 1979)
"Pennies don't fall from heaven, they have to be earned here on earth." (Speech at Lord Mayor's Banquet, 11/12/79)
"No-one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well." (London Weekend Television, 1/6/80)
"My policies are based not on some economics theory, but on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day's work for an honest day's pay; live within your means; put by a nest egg for a rainy day; pay your bills on time; support the police." (News of the World, 9/20/81)
"You know, if you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything, wouldn't you, at any time? And you would achieve nothing!" (Interview for Press Association, 5/3/89)
"The choice facing the nation is between two totally different ways of life. And what a prize we have to fight for: no less than the chance to banish from our land the dark, divisive clouds of Marxist socialism and bring together men and women from all walks of life who share a belief in freedom." (May 1983)

Slideshow: The life and times of Margaret Thatcher

John Minihan / Getty Images

A pioneer for her sex, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of the United Kingdom for almost 12 years. Take a look back at her life and career.

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"Throughout my life, I've always believed that life's path is determined by a Force more powerful than fate. I feel the Lord has brought us together for a profound purpose and that I have been richly blessed for having known you." (From eulogy to Reagan, 2004)
"We fought to show that aggression does not pay and that the robber cannot be allowed to get away with his swag. We fought with the support of so many throughout the world... Yet we also fought alone." (7/3/82, on Falkland Islands War)
"It was a lovely morning. We have not had many lovely days. And the sun was just coming through the stained glass windows and falling on some flowers right across the church and it just occurred to me that this was the day I was meant not to see." (10/15/84, following an assassination attempt by IRA)
"It pays to know the enemy - not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend." ("The Downing Street Years", 9/8/83)
"To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects." (Speech at Monash University, 10/6/81)
"To those waiting with bated breath for that favorite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning." (Speech at Conservative Party Conference, 1980)
"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." (BBC, speech in 1975)
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