Angela Quote by Hilary Mantel
![“We have a number of very powerful women in the world now - Mrs. [Angela] Merkel, who the Germans call Mutti. What did we call Mrs. [Margaret] Thatcher? When she was minister of education, she stopped the children's free school milk. This may sound quaint, but after the war we were such a…” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/622/hilary-mantel-440_angela_we-have-a-number-of-very-powerful-women_2855047.jpg)
“We have a number of very powerful women in the world now - Mrs. [Angela] Merkel, who the Germans call Mutti. What did we call Mrs. [Margaret] Thatcher? When she was minister of education, she stopped the children's free school milk. This may sound quaint, but after the war we were such a malnourished nation that part of the founding of the welfare state were public health initiatives. Every little schoolchild got milk. Mrs. Thatcher stopped it. They called her "Maggie Thatcher, milk snatcher."”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Historical figures, 2019
Powerful women leaders are remembered differently; Thatcher’s policy on school milk earned her a lasting nickname.
In simple terms: Thatcher was dubbed “milk snatcher.”
Key Takeaway
Recognize how policies shape legacy.
Themes
leadership
public policy
gender
historical memory
Mood
critical
historical
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- education reform
- political branding
- media narratives
Key Concepts
welfare state
nutrition policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What other policies define a leader’s reputation?
- How do gender perceptions influence political criticism?
A Different Perspective
Nicknames can oversimplify complex legacies.
![“Imagine the consequences of having the first woman prime minister who is the milk snatcher. [Margaret Thatcher] takes away the nourishment of the nation.” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5b7/hilary-mantel-440_consequence_imagine-the-consequences-of-having-the-f_1979662.jpg)
![“[On being asked how many Mrs. Thatchers there were:] Oh, three at least. There is the intellectual one, the intuitive one and the one at home.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c73/margaret-thatcher-463_home_on-being-asked-how-many-mrs-thatchers-th_1205127.jpg)
![“It's also wonderful to be back with my great friend and ally, Chancellor [Angela] Merkel. As I reflect back over the last eight years, I could not ask for a steadier or more reliable partner on the world stage, often through some very challenging times.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d95/barack-obama-17_allies_it-s-also-wonderful-to-be-back-with-my-g_257110.jpg)
![“The United States is doing our part by increasing the number of refugees we resettle and I want again to commend Angela [Merkel], and more importantly, the German people for the extraordinary leadership and compassion that you have shown in the face of what I know is a very difficult challenge.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/272/barack-obama-17_angela_the-united-states-is-doing-our-part-by-i_416398.jpg)
![“We have not always been in sync on every issue in terms of our core values, in terms of her integrity, her truthfulness, her thoughtfulness, [Angela Merkel] doing her homework, knowing her facts, her commitment to looking out for the interests of the German people first, but recognizing that part…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ce3/barack-obama-17_angela_we-have-not-always-been-in-sync-on-every_613865.jpg)