--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have…" description: "\"Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have said that they want to see a world without nuclear weapons. I cannot see a world without nuclear weapons. Let ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg" --- # Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have said that they… ![“Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have said that they want to see a world without nuclear weapons. I cannot see a world without nuclear weapons. Let me be practical about it. The knowledge is there to make them. So do not go too hard for that pie in the sky because, while everyone would like to…” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg) > “Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have said that they want to see a world without nuclear weapons. I cannot see a world without nuclear weapons. Let me be practical about it. The knowledge is there to make them. So do not go too hard for that pie in the sky because, while everyone would like to see it, I do not believe it is going to come about.” [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skeptical about achieving nuclear disarmament, urging pragmatic approach over idealism. **In simple terms:** Be realistic about nuclear weapons elimination. Key Takeaway Focus on practical security measures. Themes politics security nuclear weapons pragmatism Mood serious cautious Type political analytical When to use this quote - defense policy planning - international negotiations - public debates Key Concepts deterrence realpolitik peace studies Questions to Reflect On - What realistic steps can reduce nuclear risk? - How can idealism and pragmatism coexist in policy? A Different Perspective May underestimate long‑term benefits of disarmament. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gorbachev/) [Gorbachev Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gorbachev-said-5111429/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Let me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-me/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pie/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-world-1474797/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-nuclear-606905/) ## Related quotes > [The single greatest problem the world has is nuclear armament, nuclear weapons, not global warming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-single-greatest-problem-the-world-has-is-nuclear-armament-nuclear/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We have a chance to wind down and expedite the removal of 96 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. What an achievement it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/we-have-a-chance-to-wind-down-and-expedite-the-removal-of-96-percent/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [A world without nuclear weapons may be a dream but you cannot base a sure defence on dreams. Without far greater trust and confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/a-world-without-nuclear-weapons-may-be-a-dream-but-you-cannot-base-a/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [A world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/a-world-without-nuclear-weapons-would-be-less-stable-and-more/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-cannot-imagine-how-any-diplomat-or-any-dramatist-could-improve-on/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The role of Ronald Reagan had been deliberately diminished; the role of the Europeans, who, with the exception of Helmet Kohl, were often keen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/the-role-of-ronald-reagan-had-been-deliberately-diminished-the-role/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I like Mr Gorbachev, we can do business together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-like-mr-gorbachev-we-can-do-business-together/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-know-not-with-what-weapons-world-war-iii-will-be-fought-but-world/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Empathetic silence is one of the most underused weapons in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/empathetic-silence-is-one-of-the-most-underused-weapons-in-the-world/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The overall quantity of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-overall-quantity-of-nuclear-weapons-in-the-world-continues-to/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [“You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! Best weapons in the world! This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-doctor-david-tennant/you-want-weapons-we-re-in-a-library-books-best-weapons-in-the-world/) [The Doctor David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-doctor-david-tennant/) > [Of all the weapons in the world, love is the most dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/of-all-the-weapons-in-the-world-love-is-the-most-dangerous/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [“... Of all the weapons in the world, love was the most dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/of-all-the-weapons-in-the-world-love-was-the-most-dangerous/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [You want weapons? We're in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/you-want-weapons-we-re-in-a-library-books-the-best-weapons-in-the/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. -Albert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-not-with-what-weapons-world-war-iii-will-be-fought-but-world-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Margaret Thatcher > [When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-you-stop-a-dictator-there-are-always-risks-but-there-are-greater/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians do, to take counsel together, their purpose is not ( or should not be) to ascertain what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/ideally-when-christians-meet-as-christians-do-to-take-counsel/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/if-it-s-me-against-48-i-feel-sorry-for-the-48/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [ \[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:\] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-prime-minister-i-don-t-know-i/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [It is sometimes said that because of our past we, as a people, expect too much and set our sights too high. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-is-sometimes-said-that-because-of-our-past-we-as-a-people-expect/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Unless we change our ways and our direction, our greatness as a nation will soon be a footnote in the history books, a distant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/unless-we-change-our-ways-and-our-direction-our-greatness-as-a-nation/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I don't think any woman in power really has a happy life unless she's got a large number of women friends ... because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-don-t-think-any-woman-in-power-really-has-a-happy-life-unless-she-s/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [People from my sort of background needed grammar schools to compete with children from privileged homes like Shirley Williams and Anthony Wedgwood Benn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/people-from-my-sort-of-background-needed-grammar-schools-to-compete/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/what-is-success-i-think-it-is-a-mixture-of-having-a-flair-for-the/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Personal virtue is no substitute for political hard-headedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/personal-virtue-is-no-substitute-for-political-hard-headedness/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The Government wants a peaceful settlement. But we totally reject a peaceful sell-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/the-government-wants-a-peaceful-settlement-but-we-totally-reject-a/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [We have made too much of one or two people, and we think that they can win or lose elections for us. Don't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-made-too-much-of-one-or-two-people-and-we-think-that-they-can/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Explore all 539 Margaret Thatcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have said that they want to see a world without nuclear weapons. I cannot see a world without nuclear weapons. Let me be practical about it. The knowledge is there to make them. So do not go too hard for that pie in the sky because, while everyone would like to see it, I do not believe it is going to come about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Thatcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have-said-that-they-want-to-see-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have-said-that-they-want-to-see-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/margaret-thatcher-463_believe_both-the-president-and-mr-gorbachev-have_2246057.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Both the President and Mr Gorbachev have said that they want to see a world without nuclear weapons. 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