10 Quotes From Queen Elizabeth That Prove She Was the GOAT
Long live the Queen.
Astoundingly unprecedented is just one of the many ways in which the world will remember Queen Elizabeth II, who peacefully passed at her Balmoral estate on Sept. 8 at the age of 96. As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth celebrated several milestones over the course of her prominent 70-year reign.
Before her passing, the queen hit another first in British royal history when she became the first monarch to have a Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
Since assuming the throne in 1952 at just 25 years old, Queen Elizabeth has led her country with the utmost grace—and has shared a few zingers of wisdom and class along the way. While she may no longer physically be with us, Queen Elizabeth’s words will forever hold a weight in history.
From Christmas broadcasts and Jubilee speeches, here are a few times Queen Elizabeth proved she was an inspiration and the GOAT.
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1
Queen Elizabeth on not taking yourself too seriously.
From her 1991 Christmas broadcast: “Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.”
2
On wisdom and youth
From her 1998 Christmas broadcast: “No age group has a monopoly of wisdom, and indeed I think the young can sometimes be wiser than us. But the older I get, the more conscious I become of the difficulties young people have to face as they learn to live in the modern world.”
3
On aging
From her 2002 Golden Jubilee speech: “I believe that, young or old, we have as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride.”
“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.”
4
On having compassion
From her 2004 Christmas broadcast: “Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour.”
5
On overcoming challenges
From her 2008 Christmas broadcast: “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.”
6
On learning from past mistakes
From her 2011 Christmas broadcast: “It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow.”
7
On making progress
From her 2019 Christmas broadcast: “It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”
8
On family and friends
From her 2021 Christmas broadcast: “Through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family, and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance.”
9
On coming together as one
From her 2022 Commonwealth Day message: “In these testing times, it is my hope that you can draw strength and inspiration from what we share, as we work together towards a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for all.”
10
On her personal journey
From her 2022 Platinum Jubilee message: “When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But, I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee.”
“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy, and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.”
