When will Labour learn that you cannot build Jerusalem in Brussels.
Margaret ThatcherRead
Yet the basic fact remains: every regulation represents a restriction of liberty, every regulation has a cost. That is why, like marriage (in the Prayer Book's words), regulation should not "be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly"
Interpretation
What this quote means
Regulations can limit individual freedom and carry inherent costs, thus requiring careful consideration before implementation.
In this quote, Margaret Thatcher emphasizes the importance of liberty and the inherent costs that come with regulation. She parallels regulations to marriage, suggesting that just as marriage should not be entered into lightly or without forethought, similarly, regulations should be approached with caution to avoid unnecessary restrictions on freedom.
Themes
RegulationLibertyCostFreedomCaution
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on government policy, this quote can emphasize the need for careful regulation.
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
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As in forming a political society, each individual contributes some of his rights, in order that he may, from a common stock of rights, derive greater benefits, than he could from merely his own; so, in forming a confederation, each political society should contribute such a share of their rights, as will, from a common stock of these rights, produce the largest quantity of benefits for them.
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There's never going to be a united Ireland, you know.
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We need more of the Office Desk and less of the Show Window in politics. Let men in office substitute the midnight oil for the limelight.
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Always, since our birth, we've insisted on another way of doing politics. Now, we had the chance to do it without arms, but without stopping being Zapatistas; that's why we keep the masks on.
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