Her strong points were her iron will. I've never known a will like it in politics and I've known a few politicians in my time in various countries. I've never known a man or woman faintly like her, she was as tough as they come, and anything that required guts and will she could do for you. Anything that required sensitivity, she couldn't, she had none.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A description of Thatcher's extreme willpower and toughness contrasted with a lack of emotional sensitivity.
- In plain terms
- She had immense will and toughness but lacked the ability to be sensitive to others.
- What can you take from it?
- Strong willpower can come at the cost of emotional sensitivity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is toughness essential for leadership?
- Can a leader be both tough and sensitive?
Another view
This view reduces complex leadership qualities to a simple toughness versus sensitivity binary.
More from Margaret Thatcher
The Prime Ministers who are remembered are those who think and teach, and not many do. Mrs. Thatcher... influenced the thinking of a generation.
Permalink to quote #107 The Prime Minister, shortly after she came into office, received the sobriquet as the 'Iron Lady'. It arose in the context of remarks which she made about defe…
Permalink to quote #109 She was a tigress surrounded by hamsters.
Permalink to quote #106
Related quotes
Cannavaro has that unmistakable presence as a leader and in my impression, is exactly like that tough and cool-headed defense he shows on the pitch.
Fabio CannavaroFabio Cannavaro quote #7 An irritable old man with a practical, unimaginative mentality, but academically intelligent.
Erich RaederErich Raeder quote #9 I don't mind being called tough, because in this racket it's tough guys who lead the survivors.
Curtis LeMayCurtis LeMay quote #10