When will Labour learn that you cannot build Jerusalem in Brussels.
Margaret ThatcherRead
We should not expect the state to appear in the guise of an extravagant good fairy at every christening, a loquacious companion at every stage of life's journey, and the unknown mourner at every funeral.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Expecting the state to fulfill every need is unrealistic; individuals must take responsibility for their own lives.
Margaret Thatcher's quote emphasizes the idea that individuals should not rely on the government to take care of every aspect of their lives. Instead of looking for the state as a benevolent force that will guide us through milestones and challenges, we should recognize our own agency and responsibilities in navigating life. The metaphor of the state as a fairy godmother or companion implies that such expectations are misplaced and that personal accountability is crucial.
Themes
ResponsibilityGovernmentIndividualsLifeAccountability
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate about welfare policies.
More from Margaret Thatcher
All quotes →Never in the history of human credit has so much been owed.
Margaret ThatcherRead
The battle for women's rights has been largely won.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Ought we not to ask the media to agree among themselves a voluntary code of conduct, under which they would not say or show anything which could assist the terrorists' morale or their cause while the hijack lasted.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Israel must never be expected to jeopardize her security: if she was ever foolish enough to do so, and then suffered for it, the backlash against both honest brokers and Palestinians would be immense - 'land for peace' must also bring peace.
Margaret ThatcherRead
If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Similar quotes
Political campaigns are designedly made into emotional orgies which endeavor to distract attention from the real issues involved, and they actually paralyze what slight powers of cerebration man can normally muster.
James Harvey RobinsonRead
Fascism is capitalism plus murder.
Upton SinclairRead
A Russia that gradually begins to gravitate toward the West will also be a Russia that ceases to disrupt the international system.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Ronald ReaganRead
Democracy is not just voting every 5 years and watching 'Big Brother' in between and wondering why nothing happens. Democracy is what we do and say where we live and work
Tony BennRead
The founding fathers, in their wisdom, devised a method by which our republic can take one hundred of its most prominent numbskulls and keep them out of the private sector where they might do actual harm.
P. J. O'RourkeRead