Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II[Before each of numerous portrait sittings:] Now then, with teeth or without?
More Queen Elizabeth II Quotes
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The upward course of a nation’s history is due in the long run to the soundness of heart of its average men and women
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection. With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
For Christians, as for all people of faith, reflection, meditation and prayer help us to renew ourselves in God’s love, as we strive daily to become better people.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
These wretched babies don’t come until they are ready.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
It is as queen of Canada that I am here. Queen of Canada and all Canadians, not just one or two ancestral strains.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
I have behind me not only the splendid traditions and the annals of more than a thousand years but the living strength and majesty of the Commonwealth and Empire; of societies old and new; of lands and races different in history and origins but all, by God’s Will, united in spirit and in aim.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
They seldom realize that on their steadfastness, on their ability to withstand the fatigue of dull repetitive work, and on their courage in meeting constant small adversities depend in great measure the happiness and prosperity of the community as a whole. …
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
[To a woman whose cellphone rang during a formal meeting:] You’d better answer that. It could be someone important.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
I have to be seen to be believed.
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For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
[On being criticized for her serious expression:] I simply ache from smiling. Why are women expected to beam all the time? It’s unfair. If a man looks solemn, it’s automatically assumed he’s a serious person, not a miserable one.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
The British Constitution has always been puzzling and always will be.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
We lost the American colonies because we lacked the statesmanship to know the right time and the manner of yielding what is impossible to keep.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
My husband has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years, and I owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience. It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbors and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II -
I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II