When will Labour learn that you cannot build Jerusalem in Brussels.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Whether at home or abroad, the task of statesman is to work with human nature warts and all, and to draw on instincts and even prejudices that can be turned to good purpose. It is never to try to recreate Mankind in a new image.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of acknowledging human nature in leadership, rather than attempting to change it entirely.
Margaret Thatcher highlights the role of a statesman in understanding and accepting human nature, including its flaws and prejudices. Instead of striving to reshape humanity into an idealized version, effective leadership involves leveraging existing instincts and characteristics for positive outcomes. This approach recognizes the complexities of human behavior and focuses on working within those parameters to achieve beneficial results.
Themes
LeadershipHuman NatureStatesmanPrejudiceGood Purpose
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about governance, to illustrate the need for realistic approaches to leadership.
More from Margaret Thatcher
All quotes →Never in the history of human credit has so much been owed.
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The battle for women's rights has been largely won.
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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.
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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.
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If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.
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