When will Labour learn that you cannot build Jerusalem in Brussels.
Margaret ThatcherRead
I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Personal attacks often indicate a lack of substantial argument.
This quote from Margaret Thatcher suggests that when someone resorts to personal attacks in a debate, it reflects their inability to engage with the actual political arguments at hand. Instead of feeling hurt by such attacks, one should feel reassured that their opponent is losing the intellectual battle, as personal insults reveal their desperation and lack of valid points.
Themes
PoliticsCriticismDebatePersonal AttackConfidence
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of focusing on arguments rather than personal insults.
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If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.
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