Tony Blair Quotes & Sayings

You have to be able to answer those questions plainly and clearly. There can be qualifications and "get-outs," but the answers must remain comprehensible, because they define you. They add up to a political, not merely personal, character. This requires thought, detailed analysis and intellectual rigour. Politics is a far more intellectual business than is often realized. You may think: Well, if it's simplicity that's required, you don't need a whole lot of detail. Wrong. The simplicity is not born of superficial analysis. It is simple precisely because it is the product of being worked through. — Tony Blair

You know, the media and politicians are always gonna be in a bit of tension with one another and probably most of the time that's healthy and indeed even creative. But it's where - it's really when news organisations are used as kind of instruments of politics that it gets tricky. — Tony Blair

It's not a burning ambition for me to make sure that David Beckham earns less money. — Tony Blair

The fear of missing out means today's media, more than ever before, hunts in a pack. In these modes it is like a feral beast, just tearing people and reputations to bits. But no-one dares miss out. — Tony Blair

Sometimes it is better to lose and do the right thing than to win and do the wrong thing. — Tony Blair

There is good evidence that last year's European heat wave was influenced by global warming. It resulted in 26,000 premature deaths and cost $13.5 billion. — Tony Blair

We can debate this or that aspect of climate change, but the reality is that most people now accept our climate is indeed subject to change as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. — Tony Blair

I only know what I believe. — Tony Blair

The Spanish PM rang me to say: 'I have the support of only 4 per cent of the people.' I said, 'Crikey, that's even less than think Elvis Presley is still alive.' — Tony Blair

I think the center ground have got to become the people of change again and not the guardians of the status quo. And that is the weakness it comes to in our campaign. You can see it in your politics, you can see it everywhere. — Tony Blair

Times are tough but they are tough because the government is trying to do the right thing, whether on public service reform, education, health, anti-social behaviour and welfare, or in counter-terrorism — Tony Blair

I think I made the wrong career choice — Tony Blair

We in a sense went for the Bernie Sanders model OK? Now we're also in turmoil as a result of this result. — Tony Blair

The British people are the boss. — Tony Blair

All the way through, we have been willing to take risks, provided at the end of it we can get a decent lasting settlement in Northern Ireland — Tony Blair

There's a great frustration with the system. There's a lot of anger out there. But in the end, you need answers and not just anger. But anyway, let me not trespass too much into your politics. I've got enough problems in my own politics. — Tony Blair

I think all of our experience with (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein teaches us that diplomacy has very little chance of working unless it is clear to him that if diplomacy does not work, that the threatened reality of force is there,. — Tony Blair

Whatever the dangers of the action we take, the dangers of inaction are far, far greater. — Tony Blair

If what the science tells us about climate change is correct, then unabated it will result in catastrophic consequences for our world — Tony Blair

The problem is some of the populism on both the far left and the far right, it can make a Tweet but not make a policy. And, you know, when you are dealing with issues that are as important and serious as this, I understand why people search for simple solutions. — Tony Blair

We know the problems ... and we know the solution; sustainable development. The issue is the political will — Tony Blair

So actually I only got a mobile phone the day after I left being Prime Minister. — Tony Blair

I don't think it's surprising we will have to look for them. I'm confident that when the Iraq Survey Group has done its work we will find what's happened to those weapons because he had them. — Tony Blair

The kaleidoscope has been shaken. The pieces are in flux. Soon they will settle again. Before they do, let us re-order this world around us. — Tony Blair

Conflict is not inevitable, but disarmament is ... everyone now accepts that if there is a default by Saddam the international community must act to enforce its will. — Tony Blair

The first rule in politics is that there are no rules, at least not in the sense of inevitable defeats or inevitable victories. If you have the right policy and the right strategy, you always have a chance of winning. Without them, you can lose no matter how certain the victory seems. — Tony Blair

King Fahd was a man of great vision and leadership who inspired his countrymen for a quarter of a century as king. He led Saudi Arabia through a period of unparalleled progress and development. — Tony Blair

This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today — Tony Blair

They could have been removed. They could have been hidden. They could have been destroyed. — Tony Blair

The only society that works today is also one founded on mutual respect, on a recognition that we have a responsibility collectively and individually, to help each other on the basis of each other's equal worth. A selfish society is a contradiction in terms. — Tony Blair

The single hardest thing for a practicing politician to understand is that most people, most of the time, don't give politics a first thought all day long. — Tony Blair

We have no plans to increase tax at all. — Tony Blair

So much of politics is about the daily grind of political business: the people to see, the myriad different facets of government, the remorseless agenda of this part of the media or that. — Tony Blair

I can stand here today, leader of the Labour Party, Prime Minister, and say to the British people: you have never had it so ... prudent. — Tony Blair

You know, one of the things I've learnt since coming out of office is how much easier it is to give the advice than take the decision. I mean, you know, it's tough. — Tony Blair

A challenge so far-reaching in its impact and irreversible in its destructive power, that it alters radically human existence ... There is no doubt that the time to act is now. — Tony Blair

Some may belittle politics, but we know - who are engaged in it - that it is where people stand tall. And, although I know it has its many harsh contentions, it is still the arena that sets the heart beating a little faster. And if it is, on occasions, the place of low skulduggery, it is more often the place for the pursuit of noble causes. — Tony Blair

Our party: New Labour. Our mission: new Britain. New Labour new Britain. — Tony Blair

I do not want to end up with an American style of politics, with us going out there beating our chest about our faith. Politics and religion - it is not that they do not have a lot in common, but if [religion] ends up being used in the political process, I think that is a bit unhealthy. — Tony Blair

If we are wrong, we will have destroyed a threat that, at its least is responsible for inhuman carnage and suffering. That is something I am confident history will forgive. — Tony Blair

Sovereignty rests with me as an English MP and that's the way it will stay. — Tony Blair

I think people think their incomes have been flat lining for a long period of time. They feel that the next generation's opportunities are not going to be improvement. So and I also think that social media then allows insurgent movements to gain scale at speed. — Tony Blair

And the problem is, I can apologise for the information that turned out to be wrong, but I can't, sincerely at least, apologise for removing Saddam. — Tony Blair

I think the people like myself who are in the center ground of politics and who think that center left and center right can cooperate and work together. Who don't like this sort of insurgent populism because we think it's not really going to deliver for the people, I think there's a big responsibility on us in the center to get our act together. And to work out radical but serious solutions to the problems people face. — Tony Blair

I'm the f***ing Prime Minister! — Tony Blair

I'm not prepared to have someone tell me there is only one view of what Europe is. Europe isn't owned by any of them, Europe is owned by all of us. — Tony Blair

I mean, I went to a church school when I was younger and imbibed a certain amount of religion then but it was really in university that I got interested in religion and politics at the same time. I don't think as if it were one moment of conversion but my spiritual journey really began then. — Tony Blair

We expected, I expected to find actual usable, chemical or biological weapons after we entered Iraq. — Tony Blair

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the intelligence was genuine. — Tony Blair

Now you may do it badly, you may do it well, some people like you, some people hate you, all the rest of it - but you have got a real motivating life purpose. [on being Prime Minister — Tony Blair

It is not an arrogant government that chooses priorities, it's an irresponsible government that fails to choose. — Tony Blair

I will do what it takes to help Ed Miliband win general election — Tony Blair

The jolt that Tony Blair received 35,000ft above the Pacific Ocean was not normal turbulence. — Tony Blair

On these issues, the public fib. They say they want increased spending, and in theory they do - but in practice they think someone else should pay for it. However, there it is. As I used to say, the public aren't always logical, but that's their prerogative. They do expect their government to be, nonetheless. — Tony Blair

How do we deal with not just the acts of violence, but the extremist ideology that lies behind them? Because though the numbers of fanatics that go and join and kill for a group like ISIS are measured in tens of thousands, those that support the wider ideology, I'm afraid, you measure in tens of millions or more. — Tony Blair

If we don't act now, then we will go back to what has happened before and then of course the whole thing begins again and he carries on developing these weapons and these are dangerous weapons, particularly if they fall into the hands of terrorists who we know want to use these weapons if they can get them. — Tony Blair

The threat today is not that of the 1930s. It's not big powers going to war with each other. The ravages which fundamentalist political ideology inflicted on the 20th century are memories. The Cold war is over. Europe is at peace, if not always diplomatically. — Tony Blair

You get these insurgent movements of populism, left and right. An insurgent movement of populism took my political party over in the UK for example. — Tony Blair

Of particular importance to us is the recognition ... that what we want is a Europe of nations, not a federal super-state. — Tony Blair

Their barbarism will stand as their shame for all eternity. — Tony Blair

She was the people's princess and that is how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and our memories for ever. — Tony Blair

Terrorist threats are not happening just in this country, but in every European country and every country across the globe. As a result of that, we do sometimes have to take measures we would rather not take in order to give us the security we need. — Tony Blair

Leaders lead but in the end it's the people who deliver. — Tony Blair

Our determination to defend our values and way of life is greater than their (terrorists) determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism upon the world. — Tony Blair

Moreover, for decades we have been prone to far greater swings in the economic cycle than our continental counterparts. It has been boom and bust ... Under this Government, there is an entirely new framework for economic management in place — Tony Blair

The socialism of centralised state control of industry and production, is dead. It misunderstood the nature and development of a modern market economy. It failed to recognise that the state and public sector can become a vested interest capable of oppression as much as the vested interests of wealth and capital. it was based on a false view of class that became too rigid to explain or illuminate the nature of class division today. — Tony Blair

What people should understand is that I adore the Labour party. — Tony Blair

Any action taken will be against the terrorist network of Bin Laden ... As for the Taleban, they can surrender the terrorists or face the consequences - and again in any action the aim will be to eliminate their military hardware, cut off their finances, disrupt their supplies, target their troops, not civilians. — Tony Blair

I want my son to grow up in a place where the people are more powerful than the government and not the other way around. — Tony Blair

Those who wish to cause religious conflict are small in number but often manage to dominate the headline. — Tony Blair

What we also know is we haven't found them [weapons of mass destruction] in Iraq - now let the survey group complete its work and give us the report ... They will not report that there was no threat from Saddam, I don't believe. — Tony Blair

There is no doubt as to what needs to happen. There has to be a complete rejection of the type of terrorist attacks carried out in India. — Tony Blair

The class war is over. — Tony Blair

That's the art of leadership. To make sure that what shouldn't happen, doesn't happen. — Tony Blair

I shall not rest until, once again, the destinies of our people and our party are joined together again in victory at the next general election Labour in its rightful place in government again. — Tony Blair

The appalling details of the campaign of intimidation - which include grave-robbing - show the depths to which the animal extremists are prepared to stoop. — Tony Blair

I want a Britain that is one nation, with shared values and purpose, where merit comes before privilege, run for the many not the few, strong and sure of itself at home and abroad. — Tony Blair

Climate change is the world's greatest environmental challenge. It is now plain that the emission of greenhouse gases, associated with industrialization and economic growth ... is causing global warming at a rate that is unsustainable. — Tony Blair

I see the Koran very much as an outsider. It stands in the great prophetic tradition of trying to return people to the basic principles of spirituality. Taken for its time, it was an extraordinarily progressive declaration of principle. It is also extraordinary for a Christian to read: for example, there are more references to Mary than in the Gospels. The tragedy is that it has been so warped and misapplied. — Tony Blair

Politics may be the art of the possible, but at least in life, give the impossible a go. — Tony Blair

This is not a battle between the United States of America and terrorism, but between the free and democratic world and terrorism. — Tony Blair

There have been the most terrible, shocking events taking place in the United States of America within the last couple of hours ... We can only imagine the terror and carnage there and the many, many innocent people who have lost their lives ... perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of human life, and we, the democracies of this world, are going to have to come together to fight it and eradicate this evil completely from our world. — Tony Blair

Retreat might give us a moment of respite but years of repentance at our weakness would, I believe, follow. — Tony Blair

If I'd proposed solving the pension problem by compulsory euthanasia for every fifth pensioner I'd have got less trouble for it. — Tony Blair

It [the intelligence service] concludes that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons, that Saddam has continued to produce them, that he has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes, including against his own Shia population; and that he is actively trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability ... — Tony Blair

Nothing is more important to England's arrangements for the World Cup than the state of David Beckham's foot. — Tony Blair

The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes. — Tony Blair

Surely we have the wit and will to develop economically without despoiling the very environment we depend upon — Tony Blair

Ah yes, liberal democrats unified as ever in opportunism and in error. — Tony Blair

I have never pretended to be a great House of Commons man, but I pay the House the greatest compliment I can by saying that, from first to last, I never stopped fearing it. — Tony Blair

Most of the problems of government come from people being overwhelmed by the size and scale of what they have to do. — Tony Blair

After the terrible events of last week, there is still the shock and disbelief; there is anger; there is fear; but there is also, throughout the world, a profound sense of solidarity; there is courage; there is a surging of the human spirit. — Tony Blair

The full horror of what has happened in the United States earlier today is now becoming clearer. It is hard even to contemplate the utter carnage and terror which has engulfed so many innocent people. We've offered President Bush and the American people our solidarity, our profound sympathy, and our prayers. But it is plain that citizens of many countries round the world, including Britain, will have been caught up in this terror. — Tony Blair

I think everyone's had their pound of flesh and now it's time to move on. — Tony Blair

I haven't got the time to sit here arguing with someone whose idea of a coherent foreign policy is what comes up in Google when you type in peace! — Tony Blair

You only require two things in life: your sanity and your wife. — Tony Blair

In 1997, we faced daunting challenges. Boom and bust economics ... Now, for all that remains to be done, dwell for a moment on what has been achieved. — Tony Blair

There is no meeting of minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: Defeat it or be defeated by it. And defeat it we must. — Tony Blair

The problem with the old ideology was that it suppressed the individual by starting with society. But it is from a sense of individual duty that we connect the greater good and the interests of the community — Tony Blair

We promise that the events of 1991 will not happen again - we have pledged to remove Saddam and we will deliver — Tony Blair