Margaret Thatcher
I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social Chapter but not within the treaty and without Britain's participation. It sets a vital precedent. For an enlarged Community can only function if we build in flexibility of that kind... John Major deserves high praise for ensuring at Maastricht that we would not have either a Single Currency or the absurd provisions of the Social Chapter forced upon us: our industry, workforce, and national prosperity will benefit as a result.Collection: Moving
As a motive for terror, religion has more often than not required a good deal of lubrication by lucre.Collection: Motive
It is important not to allow ever wider coalition-building to become an end in itself. As we saw in the Gulf War of 1990, international pressures, particularly those exerted from within an alliance, can result in the failure to follow actions through and so leave future problems unresolved.Collection: War
I cannot imagine how any diplomat, or any dramatist, could improve on (Ronald Reagan's) words to Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva summit: 'Let me tell you why it is we distrust you.' Those words are candid and tough and they cannot have been easy to hear. But they are also a clear invitation to a new beginning and a new relationship that would be rooted in trust.Collection: New Beginnings
Putting the World to RightsCollection: Confidence
A democratic Europe of nation states could be a force for liberty, enterprise and open trade. But, if creating a United States of Europe overrides these goals, the new Europe will be one of subsidy and protectionCollection: Europe
Rogue states never turn out to be quite the pariahs they are deemed. They are only able to cause, or at least threaten to cause, mayhem because they enjoy the covert support - usually by means of technology transfers - of one or more major powers within the charmed circle of global 'good guys'.Collection: Mean
Naturally, it is with some temerity that the pupil speaks before the master, because you know more about the Common Market than anybody.Collection: Common
In a system of free trade and free markets poor countries – and poor people – are not poor because others are rich. Indeed, if others became less rich the poor would in all probability become still poorer.Collection: Country
A man may climb Everest for himself, but at the summit he plants his country’s flag.Collection: Country
Of course it’s the same old story. Truth usually is the same old story.Collection: Stories
America, my friends, is the only country in the world actually founded on liberty – the only one. People went to America to be free.Collection: Country
When you’ve spent half your political life dealing with humdrum issues like the environment, it’s exciting to have a real crisis on your hands.Collection: Real
The Kosovo campaign was a just and necessary war. And I believe that Blair – of whom I have many criticisms – in this case showed real determination in conducting it.Collection: Real
There’s no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.Collection: Firsts
It is in a country’s interests to keep faith with its allies. States in this sense are like people. If you have a reputation for exacting favors and not returning them, the favours dry up.Collection: Country
I do wish I had brought my cheque book. I don’t believe in credit cards.Collection: Book
The West as a whole in the early 1990s become obsessed with a ‘peace dividend’ that would be spent over and over again on any number of soft-hearted and sometimes soft-headed causes. Politicians forget that the only real peace dividend is peace.Collection: Real
I have very strong views about Europe. We’re quite the best country. We rescued them. We’re not going to get entangled with them. We’ve got to keep our own independence. Is that clear?Collection: Country
The Third World is very much like the First World – just poorer: what works for the West will work for the rest as well.Collection: Firsts
Had I faltered we would have neither the success nor the international reputation we have. Yet when a woman is strong she is strident. If a man is strong, he’s a good guy.Collection: Strong