Michael Gove quotes

Michael Gove is a British Conservative politician and government minister known for his influential roles in education, justice, and environment departments. A key figure in recent UK politics, he played a significant part in the Brexit campaign. He continues to shape government policy and public debate in the United Kingdom. Here are 47 of his quotes:

Children in dysfunctional homes at risk of abuse are kept in danger for too long because politically correct rules mean we won't challenge unfit parents. (Michael Gove)
As long as there are people in education making excuses for failure, cursing future generations with a culture of low expectations, denying children access to the best that has been thought and written, because Nemo and the Mister Men are more relevant, the battle needs to be joined. View quote
Michael Gove
Learning a foreign language, and the culture that goes with it, is one of the most useful things we can do to broaden the empathy and imaginative sympathy and cultural outlook of children. View quote
Michael Gove
It is literally the case that learning languages makes you smarter. The neural networks in the brain strengthen as a result of language learning. View quote
Michael Gove
I think that the people of this country have had enough of experts with organisations from acronyms saying - from organisations with acronyms - saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently wrong, because these people - these people - are the same ones who got consistently wrong. View quote
Michael Gove
It's critical that children spend time before they arrive in school in a warm, attractive and inclusive environment, where they can learn through play, master social skills and prepare for formal schooling. View quote
Michael Gove
I'm constitutionally incapable of it. There's a special extra quality you need that is indefinable, and I know I don't have it. There's an equanimity, an impermeability and a courage that you need. There are some things in life you know it's better not to try. View quote
Michael Gove
I did almost everything not to be a candidate for the leadership of this party. I was so very reluctant because I know my limitations. Whatever charisma is, I don't have it. Whatever glamour may be, I don't think anyone could ever associate me with it. I am standing for the leadership not as a result of calculation; I am standing with the burning desire to transform our country. Because my heart tells me that if we are bold, if we refuse to settle for business as usual, if we dare to dream and summon up all the qualities that have made this country the greatest in the world, then for Britain - and its people - our best days lie ahead. View quote
Michael Gove
Animals are sentient beings who feel pain and suffering, so we are writing that principle into law and ensuring that we protect their welfare. Our plans will also increase sentences for those who commit the most heinous acts of animal cruelty to five years in jail. We are a nation of animal lovers so we will make Brexit work not just for citizens but for the animals we love and cherish too. View quote
Michael Gove
There are lots of other folk, including in the Cabinet who could easily be prime minister, I am not one of them. I could not be prime minister, I am not equipped to be prime minister, I don't want to be prime minister. View quote
Michael Gove
The reality of Christian mission in today's churches is a story of thousands of quiet kindnesses. In many of our most disadvantaged communities it is the churches that provide warmth, food, friendship and support for individuals who have fallen on the worst of times. The homeless, those in the grip of alcoholism or drug addiction, individuals with undiagnosed mental health problems and those overwhelmed by multiple crises are all helped - in innumerable ways - by Christians. (Michael Gove)
I think that there are a number of economic factors in play. Some prices may go up. Other prices will come down. View quote
Michael Gove
No deal is now a very real prospect. View quote
Michael Gove
If there are Islamophobes in the Conservative Party - and there are - we should root them out. View quote
Michael Gove
The point that I made in the article is that if any of us lapse sometimes from standards that we uphold, that is human. The thing to do is not necessarily then to say that the standards should be lowered. It should be to reflect on the lapse and to seek to do better in the future. View quote
Michael Gove
It will not be the case that we will have zero-rate tariffs on food products. There will be protections for sensitive sections of agriculture and food production. View quote
Michael Gove
No-one can be blithe or blase about the real impact on food producers in this country of leaving without a deal. View quote
Michael Gove
A future prime minister could always choose to alter the relationship between Britain and the European Union. But the Chequers approach is the right one for now because we have got to make sure that we respect that vote and take advantage of the opportunities of being outside the European Union. View quote
Michael Gove
The creation of national parks almost 70 years ago changed the way we view our precious landscapes - helping us all access and enjoy our natural world. We want to make sure they are not only conserved, but enhanced for the next generation. Are we properly supporting all those who live in, work in, or want to visit these magnificent places? Should we indeed be extending our areas of designated land? View quote
Michael Gove
As I look back on that time, I think that there were mistakes that I made... I also think that my initial instinct that I was not the best person to put themselves forward as a potential prime minister, well most of my colleagues agreed. View quote
Michael Gove
I have repeatedly said that I do not want to be prime minister. That has always been my view. But events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me. I respect and admire all the candidates running for the leadership. In particular, I wanted to help build a team behind Boris Johnson so that a politician who argued for leaving the European Union could lead us to a better future. But I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead. (Michael Gove)
My view is that whatever happens in the future we will be in a strong position to deal with any crises that occur as a result of leaving the EU. View quote
Michael Gove
The day after we vote to leave we hold all the cards and we can choose the path we want. View quote
Michael Gove
The big shift in approach on education that we are taking - which is different from what happened before - is that we trust teachers and we trust heads. View quote
Michael Gove
I'm clear that we do need to improve what's happening in our schools. View quote
Michael Gove