Nicola Sturgeon Quotes

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About Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon, GBE (born 19 July 1970), is a Scottish politician who has served as the Fourth First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since November 2014. Born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, Sturgeon studied law at the University of Glasgow before entering politics. Her political career began in local government, serving as a councillor for South Queensferry from 1997 to 2006 and then as Provost (chair) of the town from 2004 to 2006. In 2004, she was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Govan. Sturgeon's political rise accelerated when she became Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing under Alex Salmond in 2007. She gained widespread recognition during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, where she led the Yes Scotland campaign. Following Salmond's resignation in 2014, Sturgeon was elected as leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland. Under her leadership, the Scottish Government has pursued a policy of increased devolution and another independence referendum, which is now scheduled for October 2023. Sturgeon's major works include "The Dream: My Scottish Independence Story" (2017), an autobiographical account of her life and political career. She is also known for her passionate advocacy for Scottish independence, social justice, and gender equality. Her quotes reflect her strong belief in these values. For instance: 1. "I believe that every person should have the chance to make their own way, no matter what their starting point." 2. "We must always be guided by our principles, but we can never allow ourselves to become prisoners of them." 3. "When you're fighting for something you care about, you need to keep going. Even when it feels like everything is against you." 4. "I don't believe that any political leader should ever be afraid to listen and learn from others." 5. "We are the authors of our own destiny – let's write the next chapter together." Sturgeon's influence extends beyond Scotland, shaping the national and global political landscape with her vision for an independent Scotland and her commitment to social justice.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We must always strive for a better, fairer, more equal Scotland."

Nicola Sturgeon's quote emphasizes her vision for a progressive Scotland that continually works towards improving its social and economic structures. This vision is rooted in the principles of fairness and equality. By "better," she signifies a society where everyone has access to opportunities regardless of their background, ensuring a more just and harmonious nation.

"If we stand together and work hard, there is no limit to what we can achieve."

This quote emphasizes unity and perseverance as fundamental principles for achieving goals. Nicola Sturgeon suggests that when people come together with a shared purpose, working diligently, they have the potential to overcome any obstacles and accomplish great things. It underscores the importance of collaboration and effort in realizing aspirations, reinforcing the idea that teamwork can empower individuals to transcend limitations.

"Fearlessness is not the absence of fear; it's the mastery of fear."

This quote emphasizes that fearlessness is not an innate lack of fear, but rather a skill or ability to manage fear effectively. It suggests that everyone experiences fear, but those who are considered "fearless" have learned how to confront their fears without being paralyzed by them. Instead, they take action despite the presence of fear, demonstrating courage and resilience in the face of uncertainty or adversity.

"I believe in the power of politics to change people's lives for the better."

This quote by Nicola Sturgeon emphasizes her strong faith in the transformative potential of political action. She asserts that politics, when practiced with integrity and compassion, has the power to bring about positive change in individuals' lives. It signifies her belief that through effective policy-making and responsible leadership, society can be improved and people's wellbeing can be enhanced.

"Everyone has a part to play in our national story, and it is only by working together that we can build the kind of Scotland we all want to see."

This quote by Nicola Sturgeon highlights the collective responsibility each individual holds in shaping their nation's future. It suggests that every citizen has a unique role to play in crafting the desired vision for Scotland, be it through active participation, collaboration, or contribution. The underlying message is that unity and cooperation are essential ingredients for achieving a shared goal – a prosperous and desirable Scotland.

Let us put the normal divisions of politics aside. Let us come together as one country; let us seize this historic moment to shift the balance of power from the corridors of Westminster to the streets and communities of Scotland.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Country, Streets, Historic

Instead of an end to austerity, Labour has made clear that it wants to impose more austerity cuts.

- Nicola Sturgeon

More, Made, Austerity, Impose

One of Ed Miliband's shadow ministers has said he would never vote for the renewal of Trident.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Shadow, Never, Would, Renewal

Our opposition to Trident is very clear, very firm, very long-standing, very principled, and we would seek to build an alliance to prevent the renewal of Trident.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Alliance, Very, Principled, Renewal

We will never vote for the renewal of Trident; that's a decision which will fall to be made in the next Westminster parliament. We will never vote for that.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Decision, Next, Which, Renewal

Is it not typical that we have a Tory Government that wants, just like its pals in the Labour Party, constantly to talk down Scotland's prospects?

- Nicola Sturgeon

Prospects, Like, Pals, Labour Party

It is clear that my predecessor as First Minister is frightening the life out of the Tories and the Labour Party. Long may it continue.

- Nicola Sturgeon

May, Tories, Minister, Labour Party

Literally every time I'm on camera, as well as there being commentary on what I've said, there'll be commentary on what my hair looked like, what I wear. Often it's written in the most hideous and quite cruel way.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Hair, Wear, Quite, Commentary

Labour long ago realised it could no longer automatically assume that it would win elections in Glasgow and other places where it has taken people's votes for granted for decades - as we have seen across Scotland at local council and Holyrood elections.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Long, Other, Seen, Automatically

For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it is a much rarer event.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Country, Established, Having, Rarer

Because of lower life expectancy in Scotland - something that we are working hard to improve - the average woman will get £11,000 less in pension payments than counterparts in the rest of the U.K., even though she will pay exactly the same in contributions.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Woman, Average, Payments, Pension

I drove my mum and dad mad.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Mad, Mum, Drove, Mum And Dad

I am quite hot-headed; I am quite impulsive. Fortunately, it doesn't last very long.

- Nicola Sturgeon

I Am, Impulsive, Very, Fortunately

I've had particularly unpleasant stuff, and it has been reported that I've had death threats. Twitter and Facebook give people who have always been out there a platform from which to hurl abuse, and all I can do is try to block it out and remind myself that tweets are transient and get lost in the ether after a few moments.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Abuse, Been, Ether, Transient

It is hard to overstate the economic importance of the U.S.A. to Scotland, and that makes it essential that we engage with companies and potential investors and get the message across that we are open for business.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Business, Importance, Makes, Overstate

For me, personally, it has been humbling since I became First Minister to speak to women and girls and have them tell me how much it means to them to have a woman in the top job in politics in Scotland.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Became, Means, Humbling

I feel comfortable in a position of leadership, but that's not to say I feel complacent about it. I take it incredibly seriously.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Say, Feel, About, Complacent

It still annoys me when I read really derogatory things about how a woman looks because you would usually not read these things about a man, and that still has the potential to put women off public life.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Woman, About, Derogatory, Public Life

I've never had a voice coach, but I am about to name drop horrendously here: I did once get some advice on how to project my voice from Sean Connery, which was lovely. It's all about where you breathe. That's my claim to fame.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Voice, Drop, Here, None

The SNP became a minority government in 2007, then a majority one in 2011. But Labour viewed what was happening as some kind of aberration. They felt the problem wasn't theirs: they didn't have to change; the Scottish people had just gone down this wrong road, and if they waited long enough, they would find their way back.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Back, Some, Became, Scottish

I don't feel we need to be independent for me to feel confident in my Scottish identity. I think Scotland is pretty comfortable in its identity. We won't need independence to preserve it... if we don't become independent, it won't disappear; it isn't under existential threat.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Think, Pretty, I Think, Scottish

Scotland almost invented the modern world. I mean, all of these televisions, telephones, penicillin, we all - all of these things were invented in Scotland.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Scotland, Penicillin, Almost, Telephones

What a war in Iraq will not do is bring about peace in the Middle East or end the injustices that feed resentment and breed terrorists.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Will, Middle, Iraq, Injustices

I've not hidden and I'll never hide the fact that I want Scotland to be an independent country. But as long as we're part of the Westminster system, it's really important to people in Scotland that we get good decisions coming out of Westminster. So we've got a vested interest in being a constructive participant.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Fact, Country, Hidden, Vested

If your pal or neighbour is in the SNP, you're more likely to listen to them than if you just turn on the telly and see me or Alex. The growth of membership is building a politically engaged community base that hasn't been there in my lifetime.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Lifetime, Been, Engaged, Membership

The fact is that co-operation between independent countries - to our mutual advantage - is the way of the modern world.

- Nicola Sturgeon

World, Fact, Mutual, Co-Operation

Some of the brightest and best women in our society are stifled in their ambitions.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Best, Society, Some, Brightest

Scotland has a great deal to offer the world in terms of our approach to key economic and social issues.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Deal, Social, Great Deal, Social Issues

I and Alex Salmond are not in competition - we are on the same side; we are on the same team, working together.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Working Together, Same, Side, Alex

I won't say I've never felt in Alex Salmond's shadow, but latterly, when Alex was leader, I didn't. It's more about my awareness of the fact I became First Minister during a parliamentary term. That means you're First Minister, but you haven't been elected in your own right as First Minister.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Leader, Been, Became, Alex

I'm manifestly not the same as Alex Salmond. I'm a different gender, for example... I'm being flippant, but maybe this is a partly gender-driven difference: I'm very keen that we find a way of reaching out across party divides to find things we agree on, as well as the things we disagree on.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Gender, Maybe, Very, Alex

Glasgow is a great city.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Great, City, Glasgow, Great City

Taxing people for having a spare bedroom and forcing them into rent arrears or the possibility of losing homes they have lived in for years has always been a cruel and heartless measure, and so it is good that the Scottish Parliament has been able to step in.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Rent, Been, Parliament, Taxing

At these big set-piece events like the leaders' debates, that exterior of calm and serenity is nothing compared to what's going on inside most of the time.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Serenity, Big, Like, Debates

I am privileged to count many Muslims among my friends - some are amongst my closest friends.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Some, Count, Closest Friends, Closest

The teachers who taught me at Dreghorn Primary and Greenwood Academy were fantastic.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Teachers, Taught, Were, Primary

People who think of a nationalist party sometimes think 'inward-looking and parochial.' The kind of nationalism I represent is the opposite of that.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Think, Kind, Sometimes, Nationalist

When I was growing up, I was lucky to benefit from a first class education.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Growing Up, Growing, Lucky, First Class

Being a housewife is not important to me, but I'm never happier than when I come home and shut the door.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Door, Come, Shut, Housewife

I feel sorry for generations of Labour voters and supporters who must look and wonder what on earth has gone wrong and what Labour is for.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Feel, Generations, Voters, Supporters

London has a centrifugal pull on talent, investment and business from the rest of Europe and the world. That brings benefits to the broader U.K. economy.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Rest, London, Benefits, Broader

Most politicians come into politics because they want to make a difference; we just have different ideas how to do it.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Want, Come, Make A Difference

I was fascinated, long before I joined the SNP, in the world around me; current affairs really interested me.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Before, Joined, Fascinated, Affairs

My politics are wildly different from hers, but someone who has been good for women in politics, stamped her authority on European and world affairs, is Angela Merkel.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Been, Angela, Affairs

English businesses would face massive transaction costs if Scotland, their second biggest export market, used a different currency.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Used, Scotland, Costs, Export

A good education is the most important gift we can give our young people.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Gift, Important, Most, Good Education

I do struggle to identify an occasion when I was held back because I'm a woman... You don't think about it at the time, but looking back at it, of course.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Woman, Think, Occasion, Struggle

If Scotland was independent, we'd be the 14th richest country in the developed world.

- Nicola Sturgeon

World, Independent, Country, Richest

American companies based in Scotland employ large numbers of people - in fact, we are the best performing part of the U.K., outside London and the southeast of England when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment.

- Nicola Sturgeon

London, Fact, Employ, American Companies

I bow to no one in my ambition to see Glasgow be as successful as it possibly can be.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Ambition, See, Glasgow, Possibly

We already know that social security is more affordable in Scotland than it is in the rest of the U.K. - spending on social protection takes up a smaller share of our economic output and our tax revenues than is the case in the U.K. as a whole.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Protection, Smaller, Whole, Economic

The Scottish Government's international development work began in 2005 with a £3 million budget focused solely on Malawi, reflecting the historic links between our two countries.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Development, Historic, Began, International

Of course, aid is only one small part of international development. Some of the greatest benefits to the world's poorest can be achieved through policy changes by developed countries.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Small, Through, Benefits, International

I am a social democrat - I believe in pursuing greater equality and tackling social justice - but... you can't do that unless you have got a strong economy, unless you have got a vibrant business base earning the wealth that makes that possible.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Strong, Tackling, Pursuing, Base

My pledge to you is that the SNP will put women and gender equality right at the heart of the Westminster agenda.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Gender, Will, Right, Pledge

Sporting success doesn't happen by accident. It takes hard work and determination on the part of the individual athletes. And it also takes investment in facilities and training support.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Work, Happen, Individual, Facilities

I like Indian takeaway.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Like, Indian

I was studious and bookish. Not just as a child but also as a teenager. I took myself too seriously.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Took, Too, Studious, Teenager

I was very proud, on just my second day in office, to appoint a gender-balanced cabinet - one of only three in the developed world.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Proud, Office, Very, Cabinet

Scotland is not a region of the U.K.; Scotland is a nation, and if we cannot protect our interests within a U.K. that is going to be changing fundamentally, then that right of Scotland to consider the options of independence has to be there.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Nation, Within, We Cannot, Region

It's very much the currency of discourse on social media where political disagreements very quickly become very personalised.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Social, Very, Quickly, Social Media

Social media is natural to me, and it's a very immediate way of saying something. It's the way politics are done these days. In modern politics, you can't ignore that even if you wanted to. I can't imagine doing politics without it.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Doing, Very, Social Media

I consider myself a selfie specialist.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Myself, Consider, Specialist

The fact that healthier lifestyles and advances in medicine mean that we are living longer is actually something to be celebrated.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Fact, Longer, Actually, Celebrated

I think it is important the communities are listened to and that their voice is heard, particularly with local government boundaries more than parliamentary boundaries, because you are talking very much about communities. It can be a very emotive thing.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Voice, I Think, Very, Communities

Most people would agree that the E.U. is too bureaucratic, not transparent or democratic enough and that it often interferes too much in matters that are best left to national governments.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Best, Often, Governments, Bureaucratic

A whole range of things are done to ensure services remain safe and sustainable because that is the absolute paramount duty of the health board.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Sustainable, Ensure, Remain, Board

As a young woman in politics, with few women around, you start to subconsciously behave like men in politics. That comes across as quite hard, tough and humorless, but you're trying to be taken seriously.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Woman, Politics, Young, Few Women

Polls can change; people's opinions can change. Voting intentions can change, and I think it would be a silly leader, a silly political party, that would assume that we have it sewn up.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Leader, Think, I Think, Assume

Scotland never voted for Margaret Thatcher.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Never, Margaret, Voted, None

There are lots of jobs and investment in Scotland dependent on our membership of the E.U. single market.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Single, Market, Lots, Dependent

The total impact of the Tory/Liberal tax, welfare and public spending changes has hit the poorest 10% in society disproportionately hard - and women have been affected even more badly than men.

- Nicola Sturgeon

More, Been, Badly, Poorest

For parents - women in particular - good quality, affordable childcare is vital.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Affordable, Particular, Childcare

Tax credits are designed to help people who work hard but who, through no fault of their own, don't earn enough to keep their families out of poverty.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Work, Work Hard, Through, Credits

An independent Scotland - like all countries - will face challenges, and we will have our ups and downs. But the decisions about how we use our wealth will be ours.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Wealth, Independent, Downs, Ups

Many hard working people in low paid jobs get housing benefit.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Housing, Working People, Low, Hard Working

Trespass, the outdoor clothing company based in the South Side, is run by two of the nicest guys and proudest Glaswegians you could meet, Afzal and Akmal Khushi.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Side, Based, South, Proudest

One of the attributes Glasgow is best known for all over the world is the friendliness of her people.

- Nicola Sturgeon

World, Over, Glasgow, Friendliness

Our MPs will take decisions on how they're voting on a day-to-day basis. But I'm the leader of the party, and in terms of our overall strategy and how we vote on key issues, then ultimately, those decisions will be mine.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Leader, Will, Mine, Strategy

Not once in my life has the Tory Party come anywhere close to winning an election in Scotland, and yet, for more than half my life, we have had a Tory government. That is wrong and undemocratic.

- Nicola Sturgeon

My Life, Election, Half, Party

Too often in the past, Scotland has been sidelined and ignored in the Westminster corridors of power, but that doesn't have to be the case anymore.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Ignored, In The Past, Been, Case

I'm not making any secret of the fact I still believe in independence. We'll continue to argue the case.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Fact, Making, Still, Case

Since I became First Minister, I have made clear my priority to alleviate poverty and tackle inequality in Scotland. Ensuring that everyone can do better in life will not only make Scotland fairer, but it will also make it a more prosperous place.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Became, Fairer, Alleviate, Priority

I thought if people were going to talk about what I wear, wouldn't it be good if they were talking about who designed it, who made it and if that's a Scottish company, so teaming up with Totty Rocks has been fantastic.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Thought, Going, Been, Designed

A minority government can't govern without support from other parties.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Government, Other, Govern, Minority

Scotch beef, salmon and shellfish are recognised the world over for their excellence and Scottish provenance. People recognise the Scottish brand. They associate the country with quality food and drink, and clearly other Scottish sectors, such as dairy, can benefit from that, too.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Excellence, Country, Other, Brand

An independent Scotland could afford pensions full stop - after all, it is our taxes and national insurance contributions that fund them now.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Insurance, Independent, Pensions

Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, it is possible for other parties to change the direction of a government without bringing a government down.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Change, Possible, Other, Fixed

Vote SNP for a party that always stands up for Scotland, that is stronger for Scotland, and a government that will keep the country moving in the right direction.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Country, Will, Always, Vote

It would be a very serious mistake for the U.K. to vote to leave the European Union, and I think it would be democratically indefensible for Scotland, if we had voted to stay in, to face the prospect of being taken out.

- Nicola Sturgeon

I Think, Very, Voted, Vote

If there is a 'Leave' vote in England and across the U.K. as a whole, then we see the reins of power being seized by politicians who are on the right of the Conservative party.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Conservative, England, Whole, Vote

I'm the leader of the SNP. I think you would expect me to say I would vote SNP in whatever constituency I lived in.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Leader, Think, I Think, Vote

I'll be arguing for Scotland to vote to stay in the E.U.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Stay, Scotland, Arguing, Vote

Ed Balls has made it crystal clear that, left to its own devices, a Labour government would simply carry on with the same budget policies as the Tories.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Balls, Devices, Tories, Budget

The U.K. government sets a cap on how much can be spent on discretionary housing payments.

- Nicola Sturgeon

How, How Much, Discretionary, Cap

People in Scotland don't take too kindly to being lectured by a Tory Chancellor.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Take, Chancellor, Tory, Kindly

I love talking to the public, I love hearing what people have got to say.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Love, Public, I Love, Hearing

My political awakening, if I can be as grand as to call it that, was all about what was happening around me. It wasn't some romantic, patriotic vision of Scotland going back to what it had been 300 years previously.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Some, Been, Patriotic, Awakening

My early years as a political activist were dominated by the poll tax.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Activist, Dominated, Were, Early Years

I think the Tories are doing - and are intent on doing - damage to things I hold dear.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Doing, Think, Damage, Intent

I've got absolutely no desire or intention of damaging England.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Desire, England, Damaging, No Desire

Governments in countries across the world have a duty to do everything possible to keep the public safe from terrorist attacks.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Governments, Countries, Terrorist

Politics is a very male-dominated, male-driven profession. I was not just a woman but a young woman, and I suppose you end up trying to behave in a way that you think is expected of you.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Profession, Very, Young Woman

I think Scotland will become an independent country. I've always believed that. It means that if I'm right on that, there has to be another referendum at some stage. But the timing and circumstances of that will require careful judgment.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Think, Country, Always, Believed

As First Minister, I will always act in the best interests of the country. As party leader, I will always act in the best interests of the party, and if that sometimes means taking difficult, unpalatable decisions, I will never shy away from that.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Leader, Country, Always, Decisions

Poverty is on the increase - due to welfare cuts - and demand for food banks has rocketed.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Poverty, Due, Banks, Increase

The truth of the matter is that countries the world over have deficits. Let us remember this about Scotland's deficit: it was not created in an independent Scotland; it was created on Westminster's watch.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Independent, Over, Deficits, Westminster

The U.K.'s debt belongs legally to Westminster, so Scotland, by definition, can't default on it.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Default, Legally, Belongs, Westminster

If you have a Tory government at Westminster that takes us out of Europe against our will, there may be people in Scotland who think, 'You know what, we might be better off independent.'

- Nicola Sturgeon

Think, Independent, May, Westminster

We've chosen to stay part of the Westminster system, but we don't want to be a forgotten, sidelined part of it.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Want, System, Part, Westminster

People don't want to go back to the days, pre-referendum, when the Westminster establishment sidelined and ignored Scotland. They want Scotland's voice to be heard.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Voice, Want, Ignored, Westminster

The decision on whether there is another referendum is down to the Scottish people.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Decision, Another, Whether, Scottish

The importance of education is ingrained in Scottish history.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Education, Ingrained, Scottish

It is one of the little known facts about modern Scottish politics that it is not quite as cut-throat as people think it is.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Think, Known, Scottish

The fact is Scottish Labour has lost its way.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Lost, Fact, Way, Scottish

The Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to get people into work.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Government, Will, Continue, Scottish

Scottish politics, U.K. politics, is not really like American politics in this respect. Not everybody is absolutely obsessed with image. I'm not saying the United States is obsessed with image.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, United States, Scottish

I'm quite hypercritical of myself. It's a very Scottish thing, always thinking that you've got to be that bit better than everyone else to be good enough.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Always, Very, Everyone Else, Scottish

Sometimes things happen in life, sometimes they don't. Don't get me wrong: I have no regrets - if I could turn the clock back 10 or 20 years, I wouldn't want to fundamentally change the path my life has taken.

- Nicola Sturgeon

My Life, Regrets, No Regrets, If I Could

It's not opinion polls that determine the outcome of elections, it's votes in ballot boxes.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Boxes, Ballot, Determine, Outcome

I think the first decision I took when I became a government minister was to reverse the planned closure of Monklands Accident and Emergency. It's an issue close to my heart.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Think, Took, Became, Close

Many people from many different walks of life have marriages that break up, and those are deeply personal, deeply painful but ultimately private matters.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Break, Private, Break Up, Painful

I have said repeatedly I do want to take longer to eliminate the deficit than the other parties. Because I want to see us have the ability to invest more in our economy, in our public services, and in lifting people out of poverty.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Other, Invest, Eliminate, Deficit

Thatcher was the motivation for my entire political career. I hated everything she stood for.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Motivation, Career, She, Hated

I'm not going to do anything that heralds in a Tory government.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Government, Anything, Going, Tory

Voting Labour in the past hasn't protected Scotland against Tory governments.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Past, In The Past, Protected, Tory

I came into politics because of my opposition to what a Tory Government was doing to the community I grew up in.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Community, Politics, Doing, Tory

I'm not going to do anything that sees a Tory government be likely.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Government, Going, Likely, Tory

Tory governments are bad for Scotland.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Bad, Scotland, Governments, Tory

Scotland's relationship with Malawi is perhaps unique - with almost every town or village in Scotland having some connection.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Some, Perhaps, Having, Village

My message is a simple one - the E.U. is not perfect, but Scotland's interests are best served by being a member.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Simple, Best, Perfect, Scotland

True gender equality in Scotland - and elsewhere - is still some way off.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Gender, Some, Still, Scotland

Scotland has been re-energized, and people all over the country have become involved in - and informed about - politics and government in a way that I have never known before. In short, we have put ourselves firmly in control of our country.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Over, Informed, Firmly, Scotland

I desperately want Scotland to be an independent country. I cannot, though, sit here and tell you definitively that it will happen, and that it will happen on this timescale, because I have to respect the opinion of the people of Scotland.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Country, Here, Happen, Scotland

Would I love to think that one day I would be First Minister of an independent Scotland? Of course.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Love, Think, Minister, Scotland

Labour's support in Scotland depends on their ability to be electable. If they are divided and unelectable, what's the point?

- Nicola Sturgeon

Depends, Divided, Point, Scotland

I want there to be another independence referendum at some stage. I want Scotland to be independent, but I wouldn't choose to have it happen because England votes to come out of the E.U.

- Nicola Sturgeon

England, Happen, Some, Scotland

The oil and gas sector in the North Sea does have a strong future if we do the right things now, but we've got to make sure that the infrastructure is right to support the sector, but also to support, over the next few years, diversification as well.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Strong, Next, North, Diversification

Personally, I can think of no greater privilege than to lead the party I joined when I was just 16.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Privilege, Think, Joined, Greater

There can be no greater privilege in life than to be chosen to lead your country.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Privilege, Country, Than, Greater

I worry about the direction of the U.K. and U.K. politics and governance in the event of a Brexit.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Worry, About, Governance

I am the granddaughter of an English woman. I love England and her people and, regardless of politics, consider you to be family... and always will.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Love, England, Always, Regardless

I've not had a deliberate image makeover.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Image, Had, Deliberate, Makeover

There's nothing in my background that would have said I was destined to be a senior politician.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Background, Senior, Would, Destined

Equality and prosperity shouldn't be seen as enemies of each other, but as partners. One reinforces the other.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Prosperity, Enemies, Other, Partners

The debate around the ageing population should, in my view, focus much more on how we grow the active, working population.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Grow, More, Ageing, Population

Maybe its time for politicians to fight back a little bit in terms of this notion that politicians are all in it for themselves, we're all the same, we're not driven by sincere motives. Because the fact of the matter is the vast majority are.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Fact, Maybe, Vast Majority, Vast

As a veteran of many campaigns, I know how important it is not let up in the last few days.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Important, How, Veteran, Campaigns

I'm a politician, and as you know, politicians are rarely very funny.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politician, Know, Very, Rarely

I am quite a shy person. You say that to people, and they say, 'You do interviews, speeches. How can you be shy?' But, fundamentally, I am.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Shy, Speeches, Say, They Say

I wish we lived in a world where how you looked or what you wore wasn't an issue for men or women, and it's by and large not an issue for men, so I wish it wasn't an issue for women, but it is.

- Nicola Sturgeon

I Wish, Issue, Large, Wore

In particular, I want to set a challenge to public bodies and private companies to improve gender balance on their own boards.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Gender, Private, Set, Particular

I think the fact that people are even talking about the prospect of the Tories coming second is less about anything the Tories have done and more about the failures of Labour to set out, in any kind of coherent sense, what it's for anymore.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Fact, I Think, Coherent, Prospect

Maybe unlike a lot of people who join the SNP today, I never had any expectation of a political career.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Political, Career, Maybe, Unlike

Twitter's probably my bad habit.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Habit, Bad, Twitter, Bad Habit

I'm not a scientist. If there is a risk to our environment, there will be no fracking.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Environment, Will, Scientist, Risk

I don't cook very often. Actually, I'd go further: I can't cook.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Cook, Very, Actually, Further

There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can't achieve what others can achieve. You are the master of your own fate, and if you work hard, you can do what you want.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Work Hard, Fate, Means, Holds

U.K. welfare cuts are pushing more children into poverty; that is beyond dispute.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Children, More, Dispute, Cuts

The assumption that people sometimes make is that I have made a cold, calculated decision to put my career ahead of having family, and that's not true.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Decision, Career, Having, Assumption

If there are healthy - and growing - numbers of people working and paying taxes, we are better able to pay the costs of people living longer.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Living, Numbers, Costs, Paying

I believe we should support people to live, and I am therefore in favour of good quality palliative care.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Believe, Good Quality, Am, Therefore

I stand here today as the first woman first minister of our country. Every day I hold this office, I will work to ensure that every woman, every wee girl across this country, gets a chance to do what I've done and follow their dream.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Woman, Country, Here, Wee

I am quite driven. I know what I think, and I know what I want to achieve, but I also hope that people who are asked to describe me would describe me as pretty down-to-earth, loyal, friendly. The more experience I have got in politics, I think the more I have allowed me to shine through.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Through, I Think, Driven

If something can be proven to work, we should try it... Making sure that our young folk get the best education is the only thing that matters to me, and if something can be shown to work in doing that or if something's worth trying to do that, then I'll certainly be in the market for it.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Education, Doing, Young, Folk

This government and the party that I lead will continue to argue an alternative to the Tory-Labour austerity.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Government, Will, Continue, Alternative

Parties that win elections should form the government, not parties that lose elections.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Government, Lose, Form, Elections

To every woman out there who thinks that they might like to get involved in politics or stand for parliament, I say go for it. If I can do it, so can you.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Woman, Politics, Go For It, Thinks

The U.K. needs a strong opposition, and Labour shows no signs of being capable of being that. The SNP is filling that void and will go on seeking to do that.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Strong, Needs, Void, Seeking

I am a believer in people succeeding on merit.

- Nicola Sturgeon

I Am, Succeeding, Merit, Believer

Haggis is delicious. It is wonderful. It's spicy, it's tasty, and you get vegetarian haggis as well.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Vegetarian, Well, Get, Delicious

One thing we've learned is that there's not anything that Nigel Farage won't blame on foreigners.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Foreigners, Learned, Blame

Any politician or campaigner trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public won't get very far.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politician, Over, Very, Wool

I know you've got to earn people's trust, and you've got to earn it day after day after day.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Trust, Know, After, Earn

Men - the colour of their tie is the most difficult decision they have to make every day.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Decision, Colour, Most, Tie

I hope nobody in England is afraid of the SNP - there is absolutely no need to be.

- Nicola Sturgeon

England, Need, Afraid, Absolutely

Clearly, any issues about breaching of expenses rules should be properly investigated.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Should, About, Properly, Expenses

There was nothing in my childhood that said, 'She's going to be first minister of the country one day.'

- Nicola Sturgeon

Childhood, She, Country, Minister

I do not want to see, for any reason, the Tories resurgent in any way.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Reason, Want, See, Tories

Do I look like one of the most dangerous women in Britain? Come on!

- Nicola Sturgeon

Dangerous, Like, Most, Britain

Talent is really important in politics, but experience is also really important.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Politics, Important, Also, Talent

I admire Obama.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Admire, Obama

I don't know Ed Miliband as a person particularly well.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Know, Person, Well, Particularly

I think you should always aim for more.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Think, Always, I Think, Aim

I take responsibility for everything that happens in the SNP as leader.

- Nicola Sturgeon

Responsibility, Take, Leader

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