Theresa May Quotes

Powerful Theresa May for Daily Growth

About Theresa May

Theresa May (born October 1, 1956), a prominent British politician, served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019. Born in Eastbourne, Sussex, England, May grew up in a modest household with her mother and father, who were both schoolteachers. May studied geography at the University of Oxford and later earned a degree in law from the University of London. Her political journey began as a researcher for the Association for Payment Clearing Services and the National Union of Students. In 1979, she joined the Conservative Party. May served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidenhead from 1997 until her resignation in 2019. She held various cabinet positions during her tenure, including Home Secretary (2010-2016), where she played a significant role in shaping the government's response to terrorism and immigration issues. In 2016, May succeeded David Cameron as Prime Minister after the Brexit referendum, becoming the second female Prime Minister in British history. Her tenure was marked by the complex negotiations surrounding Britain's exit from the European Union. Despite her leadership, she failed to secure a clear majority for her policies in the 2017 general election. May resigned as Prime Minister in July 2019 following numerous resignations from her cabinet and a vote of no confidence by her own Conservative Party. Since leaving office, she has maintained a low profile but continues to engage in political commentary on occasions. Throughout her career, May was known for her pragmatic and centrist approach to politics. She is remembered for her quotation: "If you're careless with the truth, you can't be relied upon when the truth really matters," emphasizing her stance on integrity in leadership.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you believe you're a leader, if you step up, and give of your best, then you will be challenged - but you will also have the chance to make a difference."

This quote by Theresa May suggests that leadership is not just about holding a title or position, but rather it's about stepping up, taking responsibility, and giving one's best efforts. It implies that anyone who aspires to be a leader will face challenges, but those challenges also present an opportunity to influence and make a positive impact. In essence, the quote encourages individuals to embrace their leadership potential and seize opportunities for growth and change.


"Change, by definition, is difficult."

The quote by Theresa May, "Change, by definition, is difficult," emphasizes the inherent challenges that come with change. It highlights that any shift from a familiar situation or state to something new, by its very nature, presents obstacles, challenges, and discomfort. This insight underscores the need for patience, understanding, and resilience when navigating change, as it is an integral part of growth and progress.


"Brexit means Brexit."

This quote, uttered by former British Prime Minister Theresa May in October 2016 during the debate over Brexit, was meant to reinforce a sense of clarity and certainty in the Brexit process. It served as an attempt to assure voters that the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union would be honored fully, without ambiguity or backtracking. However, it became symbolic of the political turmoil surrounding Brexit, as the meaning of "Brexit" itself proved elusive due to competing interests and changing circumstances.


"I am not a quitter. I never give up."

Theresa May's quote emphasizes her determination, resilience, and unwavering commitment to persist in the face of adversity. The statement suggests that she views giving up as an option she is unwilling to consider, implying a strong will and doggedness to overcome challenges throughout her personal or professional life.


"We need to be a country that controls its own destiny, a strong, successful global Britain."

This quote by Theresa May suggests a desire for the United Kingdom to maintain its independence and sovereignty while also aiming for global influence and success. The phrase "controls its own destiny" indicates an intention to make decisions and take actions that determine the country's future without being heavily influenced or controlled by external factors, whereas "strong, successful global Britain" implies a desire to be a prominent player on the international stage while achieving economic prosperity. Overall, the quote emphasizes a balance between national autonomy and international engagement.


We will talk to the CIFAS members, financial institutions, about the possibility of closing accounts of people who have no right to be here. If you're going to create a hostile environment for illegal migrants... access to financial services is part of that.

- Theresa May

Financial, Here, Access, Institutions

It is all around us, hidden in plain sight. It is walking our streets, supplying shops and supermarkets, working in fields, factories or nail bars, trapped in brothels or cowering behind the curtains in an ordinary street: slavery.

- Theresa May

Behind, Hidden, Streets, Curtains

Shortly after the appointment of Britain's first-ever female police constable with officials powers of arrest, the Home Office declared that women could not be sworn in as police officers because they were not deemed 'proper persons'. It makes you wonder what those Home Office officials would say now to having a female Home Secretary.

- Theresa May

Police Officers, Britain, Arrest

I don't tour the TV studios. I don't gossip over lunch. I don't drink in Parliament's bars. I don't wear my heart on my sleeve. I just get on with the job in front of me.

- Theresa May

Lunch, Over, TV, Bars

I will not allow a Delia Smith cookbook in my house! It's all so precise with Delia, and it makes cooking seem so inaccessible.

- Theresa May

Will, Allow, Smith, Inaccessible

We need to change attitudes. We can only change attitudes by working together. Government will do its bit, but I want you all to do your bit, too. So speak out, stand up against violence against women and girls, and that's the way we can eradicate it.

- Theresa May

Against, Attitudes, Your, Eradicate

Poverty is about people lacking the tools they need to get on in life. And solving it is about tackling educational failure, antisocial behaviour, debt problems and addiction, and of course it's about work.

- Theresa May

Need, Solving, Tackling, Lacking

The U.K. needs a system for family migration underpinned by three simple principles. One: that those who come here should do so on the basis of a genuine relationship. Two: that migrants should be able to pay their way. And three: that they are able to integrate into British society.

- Theresa May

Simple, Here, British, Integrate

Communities need to feel that they can accommodate people. Rather than feeling that it's not possible to integrate and that the stress and strain on housing and public services is too great.

- Theresa May

Stress, Need, Strain, Integrate

If you are from an ordinary working class family, life is just much harder than many people in politics realise.

- Theresa May

Politics, Working Class, Class Family

Sham marriages have been widespread; people have been allowed to settle in Britain without being able to speak English; and there have not been rules in place to stop migrants becoming a burden on the taxpayer. We are changing all of that.

- Theresa May

Been, Becoming, Britain, Sham

Flexible working is not just for women with children. It is necessary at the other end of the scale. If people can move into part-time work, instead of retirement, then that will be a huge help. If people can fit their work around caring responsibilities for the elderly, the disabled, then again that's very positive.

- Theresa May

Elderly, Other, Very, Flexible

We campaigned on the fact that we were going to have to take difficult decisions because of the state of the public finances. When we got into government we discovered that actually the public finances were in an even worse state than we thought.

- Theresa May

Fact, Discovered, Even Worse, Difficult Decisions

Our manifesto to the British people promised to finish the job of police reform. And that is exactly what I intend to do.

- Theresa May

British, Promised, Exactly, Intend

National security is the first duty of government but we are also committed to reversing the substantial erosion of civil liberties.

- Theresa May

Committed, Liberties, Also, National Security

The U.K. courts were very clear that Abu Qatada posed a threat to our national security - that's why we were pleased as a government to be able to remove him from the United Kingdom.

- Theresa May

Clear, United, Very, National Security

If, before 2020, there is a choice between further spending cuts, more borrowing and tax rises, the priority must be to avoid tax increases. They would disrupt consumption, employment and investment.

- Theresa May

More, Before, Spending Cuts, Employment

What's important is that we do this in the right timescale to get the right deal for the U.K. We shouldn't invoke Article 50 immediately.

- Theresa May

Right, Deal, Immediately, Invoke

We're getting rid of bureaucracy, so that we're releasing time for police officers to be crime fighters and not form writers.

- Theresa May

Police Officers, Writers, Fighters

People will be able to raise their concerns: what are local officers doing about the drug dealing in the local park? What's happening about the pub where all the trouble is? And the police will have to respond.

- Theresa May

Doing, Will, Dealing, Pub

I am willing to consider powers which would ban known hooligans from rallies and marches and I will look into the powers the police already have to force the removal of face coverings and balaclavas.

- Theresa May

Will, Willing, Which, Marches

The right place for a person suffering a mental health crisis is a bed, not a police cell. And the right people to look after them are medically trained professionals, not police officers.

- Theresa May

Police Officers, Crisis, Bed, Medically

We are mandating forces to hold regular neighbourhood beat meetings. These meetings will give local people the chance to scrutinise the work of their local police.

- Theresa May

Chance, Give, Will, Neighbourhood

Retailers have an important part to play in preventing knife crime - enforcing age restrictions and displaying knives safely is crucial.

- Theresa May

Play, Preventing, Enforcing, Displaying

Tax credits do not help people get better jobs; in fact, they can create poverty traps that actually disincentivise people from working more hours or finding a better paid job.

- Theresa May

Fact, More, Hours, Traps

We will make the law clearer on parents' liability for failing to prevent their child being subjected to FGM, and we are working to improve the police response.

- Theresa May

Law, Will, Subjected, Liability

If we are going to realise our ambition of ending the harmful practices of FGM and forced marriage, the role of young people in pushing for change is crucial. We also need to ensure that everyone, from government to civil society, is playing their part.

- Theresa May

Young, Role, Forced, Harmful

Reducing net E.U. migration need not mean undermining the principle of free movement. When it was first enshrined, free movement meant the freedom to move to a job, not the freedom to cross borders to look for work or claim benefits.

- Theresa May

Benefits, Meant, Undermining, Claim

Poverty is not just about income: it's about aspiration. It's not just about giving people a couple of extra pounds a week, welcome though that is.

- Theresa May

Week, Income, Couple, Extra

I grew up the daughter of a local vicar and the granddaughter of a regimental sergeant major.

- Theresa May

Up, Vicar, Major, Sergeant

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