--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came to office with one deliberate…" description: "\"I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society -- from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_i-came-to-office-with-one-deliberate-int_3081497.jpg" --- # I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change… ![“I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society -- from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_i-came-to-office-with-one-deliberate-int_3081497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_i-came-to-office-with-one-deliberate-int_3081497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_i-came-to-office-with-one-deliberate-int_3081497.jpg) > “I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society -- from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.” [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. She advocated shifting Britain from reliance on external aid to self‑sufficiency, encouraging personal initiative over passive dependence. **In simple terms:** Promote self‑reliance and initiative. Key Takeaway Encourage self‑reliance. Themes self‑reliance initiative national policy economic independence Mood determined optimistic Type political motivational When to use this quote - government policy - community development - entrepreneurship - education reform Key Concepts politics economics social change Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance self‑reliance with social safety nets? - What policies best foster a do‑it‑yourself mindset? A Different Perspective Self‑reliance may overlook systemic inequalities needing collective support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [Do it yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-it-yourself/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Iron lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron-lady/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self reliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-reliant/) ## Related quotes > [But this is the great danger America faces. That we will cease to be one nation and become instead a collection of interest groups:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/but-this-is-the-great-danger-america-faces-that-we-will-cease-to-be/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [We meant to change a nation, and instead, we changed a world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-meant-to-change-a-nation-and-instead-we-changed-a-world/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [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/) > [When I came into office, I could have kicked the can down the road for a little while, or I could do the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/when-i-came-into-office-i-could-have-kicked-the-can-down-the-road-for/) [Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/) > [Economics are the method; the object is to change the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/economics-are-the-method-the-object-is-to-change-the-soul/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you tonight in my … chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up, my fair hair gently waved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/ladies-and-gentlemen-i-stand-before-you-tonight-in-my-chiffon-evening/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Each generation has to stand up for democracy. It can't take anything for granted and may have to fight fundamental battles anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/each-generation-has-to-stand-up-for-democracy-it-can-t-take-anything/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I came to this office to solve problems and not pass them on to future presidents and future generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-came-to-this-office-to-solve-problems-and-not-pass-them-on-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's the Labour Government that have brought us record peacetime taxation. They've got the usual Socialist disease - they've run out of other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-s-the-labour-government-that-have-brought-us-record-peacetime/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I felt completely ready to become prime minister. I came to office better equipped, in terms of knowledge of economics and of the Australian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/i-felt-completely-ready-to-become-prime-minister-i-came-to-office/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Gentlemen, if we don't cut spending we will be bankrupt. Yes, the medicine is harsh, but the patient requires it in order to live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/gentlemen-if-we-don-t-cut-spending-we-will-be-bankrupt-yes-the/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I have made it quite clear that a unified Ireland was one solution that is out. A second solution was a confederation of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-have-made-it-quite-clear-that-a-unified-ireland-was-one-solution/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [We had to fight the enemy without in the Falklands. We always have to be aware of the enemy within, which is much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-had-to-fight-the-enemy-without-in-the-falklands-we-always-have-to/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I came into office to do what was correct, not to see what was politically expedient to get re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/i-came-into-office-to-do-what-was-correct-not-to-see-what-was/) [Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/) > [“Bella came into my office. I was working on a poem. The poem was about butts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-grimbol/bella-came-into-my-office-i-was-working-on-a-poem-the-poem-was-about/) Justin Grimbol ## 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 Britain quotes > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [In Britain, the press want to kill a show by revealing what's coming up and spoiling the pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/in-britain-the-press-want-to-kill-a-show-by-revealing-what-s-coming/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) > [If we don't like modern Britain, then it is very unlikely that modern Britain will like us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-don-t-like-modern-britain-then-it-is-very-unlikely-that-modern/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/) [Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/) > [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because there is a host. The Church of England is a good host, it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/we-from-every-religion-feel-comfortable-in-britain-because-there-is-a/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I am the last of Britain's stately homos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-am-the-last-of-britain-s-stately-homos/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [ As for whether what happened in Britain improves\[Donald\] Trump's chances of winning, I don't think so. He has the same chances; we may just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/as-for-whether-what-happened-in-britain-improves-donald-trump-s/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) > [Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/britain-like-other-european-states-is-not-and-never-will-again-be-in/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [Germany has always stood for an E.U. of the 27 countries. But in light of Britain's continued resistance to further integration steps, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/germany-has-always-stood-for-an-e-u-of-the-27-countries-but-in-light/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) [Browse all 1,648 Britain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society -- from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. 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