An apology offered and, equally important, received is a step towards reconciliation and, sometimes, recompense. Without that process, hurts can rankle and fester and erupt into their own hatreds and wrongdoings.
Margaret MacmillanRead
There was that argument that if we had more women in positions of authority, the world would be a nicer place. And then we got Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Indira Gandhi. When women become acclimatised to war, they can become every bit as ruthless as men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
More women in power might not necessarily lead to a more compassionate world as demonstrated by historical female leaders.
Margaret Macmillan's quote suggests that while the inclusion of women in positions of authority is often believed to mitigate aggressive behavior in leadership, the historical examples of strong female leaders like Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher indicate that women can also adopt ruthless tactics typical of wartime leaders. This challenges the notion that gender solely determines leadership style and highlights the complexity of human behavior in power dynamics.
Themes
WomenLeadershipPowerAuthorityWar
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the role of women in leadership at a women's rights symposium.
More from Margaret Macmillan
All quotes →Climate change respects no borders.
Margaret MacmillanRead
War is a crucial, deeply ingrained part of human history. It has to be understood.
Margaret MacmillanRead
Theodore Roosevelt's policy to build a two-ocean navy confirmed that the old-style isolationism of the founders had not survived the modern, increasingly globalized world.
Margaret MacmillanRead
If we don't take responsibility for each other, it seems to me the future is going to be even bleaker.
Margaret MacmillanRead
Nominally left- and right-wing populists differ primarily in their choice of which 'others' to exclude and attack, with the former singling out big corporations and oligarchs, and the latter targeting ethnic or religious minorities.
Margaret MacmillanRead
Similar quotes
Moses was the greatest legislator and the commander in chief of perhaps the first liberation army.
Elie WieselRead
Presidential power is the power to persuade.
Richard NeustadtRead
No duty the Executive had to perform was so trying as to put the right man in the right place.
Thomas JeffersonRead
Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it; those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it.
Malcolm ForbesRead
Coaches have to watch for what they don't want to see and listen to what they don't want to hear.
John MaddenRead
Those renowned generals [Alexander and Caesar] received more faithful service, and performed greater actions by means of the love their soldiers bore them, than they could possibly have done, if instead of being beloved and respected they had been hated and feared by those they commanded.
Benjamin FranklinRead