When will Labour learn that you cannot build Jerusalem in Brussels.
Margaret ThatcherRead
There is no week, nor day, nor hour, when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their supreme confidence in themselves, and lose their roughness and spirit of defiance. Tyranny may always enter—there is no charm or bar against it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote stresses the importance of self-confidence and resilience in preventing tyranny.
In this quote, Margaret Thatcher warns that tyranny is always a possibility in a society, especially if its citizens lack confidence in themselves and become complacent. She emphasizes that a loss of spirit and defiance among the people can lead to the rise of oppressive forces, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance and self-assuredness in the defense of freedom.
Themes
TyrannyConfidenceFreedomDefianceVigilance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about democracy and civic engagement, one might reference this quote to inspire people to stand up for their rights.
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
This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.
Barack ObamaRead
The established politicians, who before the war preached national pride and Christian love, were the first to collaborate with the Germans. But the communists, who as children we'd been taught to fear, kept a resistance movement alive, living and dying true to their ideals.
Mikis TheodorakisRead
While democracy must have its organizations and controls, its vital breath is individual liberty.
Charles Evans HughesRead
The American foreign policy trauma of the sixties and seventies was caused by applying valid principles to unsuitable conditions.
Henry A. KissingerRead
I opposed the Suez war, I opposed the Falklands war. I opposed the Libyan bombing and I opposed the Gulf war and I never believed that any of those principled arguments lost a single vote - indeed, I think they gained support though that was not why you did it. What has been lacking in Labour politics over a long period is a principled stand
Tony BennRead
Whoever decides to dedicate their life to politics knows that earning money isn't the top priority.
Angela MerkelRead