“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”
- October 13, 1925 – April 8, 2013
- British
- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Politician, “The Iron Lady”
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Quote
“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”
Explanation
This quote by Margaret Thatcher reveals her distinctive blend of strategic patience and unyielding determination. While she presents herself as willing to wait and endure challenges, the second half of the sentence makes clear that her patience is not passive or compromising—it is purposeful and focused entirely on achieving her desired outcome. In essence, she is saying that persistence is not about surrendering to delay, but about outlasting opposition until victory is secured.
Thatcher’s political style was marked by precisely this trait. Whether in implementing economic reforms, facing down union resistance, or asserting Britain’s global role, she was known for holding firm under pressure and outlasting critics. Her patient resolve during events like the Falklands War or the miners’ strike underscored that her goal was not consensus, but results, and that she was willing to wait out resistance as long as she prevailed in the end.
Today, the quote exemplifies a leadership style that blends tenacity with long-term vision. It resonates with those who understand that achieving meaningful change often requires endurance, focus, and the refusal to be diverted by temporary setbacks. Thatcher’s words capture a mindset of strategic patience—not as weakness, but as a calculated path to power.
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