They said it in 1991 (1992)

From the January 1992 issue of the Socialist Standard

JANUARY

The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901, since when about 100 million human beings have been killed in wars—Army recruitment advert.

We no longer take American Express. Things are not what they used to be—Baghdad hotel receptionist.

Only God could have got rid of Margaret Thatcher—Ian Paisley.

FEBRUARY

Rationing of health care is nothing new: the NHS has been doing it for more than four decades—Robert Craig, NHS manager.

We are the ones who have been given a special mission by God—Major Mohammed Abu Amnah. Saudi Army.

We are depending on God—Saddam Hussein.

MARCH

Americans can move forward to lend, spend and invest—George Bush on the end of the Gulf War.

Luxury is buying a dear brand of toilet paper—Wife of an unemployed man, Crewe.

It does sometimes strike me that we are a privileged place—Eton schoolboy.

APRIL

I have too much. Its a terrible bind to be in charge of controlling and investing money—Duke of Buccleuch.

There's one law for the rich, one for the poor—Marquess of Blandford, after being disqualified from driving.

When I pass a belt I cannot resist hitting below it—Robert Maxwell.

MAY

1. The world produces enough food to feed all its inhabitants. 2. a child dies from starvation every two seconds—Christian Aid advert.

We didn't go to war to form a democracy. We never said one American was sent there to make Kuwait a democracy—US Government official.

I shall not stop making speeches—Margaret Thatcher, in Moscow.

JUNE

Like many other parts of the capitalist economy, such as property developers, banks do well under Labour-—John Willcock, Guardian financial columnist.

If you’re given the choice of being born either rich or smart, my advice is to be born rich—Professor Stephen Ceci. 

Organisers of strikes are breaking the law. Strikes interfere with Poland—Lech Walesa.

JULY

The sort of people you step over when you come out of the opera—Sir George Young, Minister of Housing, on London beggars. 

He was only there in the first place because they had oil—Mavis Cole, grandmother of soldier killed in the Gulf.

Of course we play the stock market fairly heavily—Canon Dennis Green. Ely Cathedral.

AUGUST

The ousting of Gorbachev was just politics, but business is business—Western business executive in trade with Russia.

I'm quite surprised because most of the people here don't seem to be affected by the recession—Visitor to Country Landowners' Association game fair.

I know the dangers, I‘ve been raped at gunpoint. But I need the money—Samantha. London prostitute.

SEPTEMBER

It feels as if someone is trying to break us— Marie Pender, mother of four children, living in bed and breakfast accommodation.

I am not proud of the part I played in this affair and I shall exercise some modesty in advising a later generation on what they should be doing today—George Matthews, ex-assistant general secretary of the Communist Party, on their subservience to Moscow.

You see families counting out the pennies to see if they can buy a tin of beans. I thought it went out with Dickens—Molly Woodhouse, Meadowell Estate, after the riot there.

OCTOBER

I don’t accept there is a class system in this country. There are gentlemen and women with good manners no matter where they are in society—Sheila Lawlor, Centre for Policy Studies.

In a capitalist country a classless society isn't possible—Marquess of Blandford.

A standing ovation without a speech. Isn't that marvellous—Margaret Thatcher on her arrival at the Tory Party conference.

NOVEMBER

We're talking hundreds of millions in lost business—Sidney Barthelemy, Mayor of New Orleans, on racist primary candidature of David Duke.

When it comes to freedom there were certain shortcomings in the Soviet Union—Russian spy Peter Kroger.

No farming system is sustainable unless it makes a profit—Derek Barber, President, Royal Agricultural Society of England.

DECEMBER

When I'm hungry I have a cup of tea— Single mother of three on ITV's First Tuesday.

Life is difficult and tough—Norman Lamont.

Well, I miss me too—Margaret Thatcher at New York diplomatic dinner.