The 25 Best Queen Elizabeth Quotes in Honor of Her 70-Year Reign

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By Alexandra Hough

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Published Sep 8, 2022

Additional reporting by

Nakeisha Campbell

Over the course of Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign, her words (and her corgis) have become well known around the globe. And now, the world is reacting to the news of the monarch’s death.

In honor of the queen’s passing, we’re taking a look back at her most memorable words of wisdom. Read on for 25 of the most inspirational (and witty) Queen Elizabeth quotes.

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1. “Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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2. “Work is the rent you pay for the room you occupy on earth.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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3. “I should like to be a horse.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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4. “I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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5. “When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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6. “If I wore beige, nobody would know who I am.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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7. “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

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8. “It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the hard progress of humankind.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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9. “It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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10. “I have to be seen to be believed.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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11. “Grief is the price we pay for love.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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12. “Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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13. “Football’s a difficult business and aren’t they prima donnas. But it’s a wonderful game.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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14. “Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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15. "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

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16. “In times of doubt and anxiety the attitudes people show in their daily lives, in their homes, and in their work, are of supreme importance.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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17. “The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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18. “Giant leaps often start with small steps.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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19. “Religion and culture are much in the news these days, usually as sources of difference and conflict, rather than for bringing people together. But the irony is that every religion has something to say about tolerance and respecting others.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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20. “Everyone is our neighbor, no matter what race, creed or color.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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21. “Such a blend of traditions serves to make us stronger, individually and collectively, by providing the ingredients needed for social, political and economic resilience.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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22. “Whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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23. “Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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24. “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception.” – Queen Elizabeth II

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25. “The wartime generation—my generation—is resilient.” – Queen Elizabeth II

purewow author

Alexandra Hough

nakeisha campbell bio

Nakeisha Campbell

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Writes celebrity news, TV/movie reviews and SEO-focused entertainment articles
Interviews celebrities and covers red carpet events
Has 8+ years of experience covering entertainment topics