Margaret Thatcher on decisions

Being a leader is like being a lady, if you have to go around telling people you are one, you aren’t.

I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.

In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.

The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead.

George S. Patton1885–1945

• Fear

When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I’ll like it or not. Disagreement, at this stage, stimulates me. But once a decision has been made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.

Colin Powell1937–2021

Ever notice that ‘what the hell’ is always the right decision?

Marilyn Monroe1926–1962

• Risk