Take it from The Queen: 17 Unforgettable Quotes from Queen Elizabeth II

1. On the true definition of family…

“Family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of a community, organisation or nation.”

2. On the importance of training…

“It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained.”

3. On being patient with and not giving up on life…

“There are long periods when life seems a small, dull round, a petty business with no point, and then suddenly we are caught up in some great event which gives us a glimpse of the solid and durable foundations of our existence.”

4. If not for their aunt, The Queen…

“They are not royal. They just happen to have me as their aunt.”

5. On the essence of women…

“It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the hard progress of humankind.”

6.  On ordinary citizens being the heart of the nation…

“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.”

7. Some real talk about love…

“Grief is the price we pay for love.”

8. On kicking some ass…

“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. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.”

9. On working for your place on earth…

“Work is the rent you pay for the room you occupy on earth.”

10. On reflecting on one’s actions…

“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.”

11. On winning people’s trust…

“I have to be seen to be believed.”

12. On being fearlessly noble…

“Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare.”

13. On women being expected to smile at all times…

“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.”

14. On being a little less hard on yourself…

“Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.”

15. On the significance of teamwork in achieving success…

“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.”

16. On what good memories really are…

“Good memories are our second chance at happiness.”

17. On courage and determination…

“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.”