--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Britain is a great country. We can more…" description: "\"Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what we like, and we can walk down the street without anyone trying to kill us. I know it's tough f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/billy-bragg-8867_britain_britain-is-a-great-country-we-can-more-o_998806.jpg" --- # Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what… ![“Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what we like, and we can walk down the street without anyone trying to kill us. I know it's tough for some people, but generally we live in a caring society. We live in a great country, but we're no longer a great power. Part of the problem with…” quote by Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/billy-bragg-8867_britain_britain-is-a-great-country-we-can-more-o_998806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/billy-bragg-8867_britain_britain-is-a-great-country-we-can-more-o_998806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/billy-bragg-8867_britain_britain-is-a-great-country-we-can-more-o_998806.jpg) > “Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what we like, and we can walk down the street without anyone trying to kill us. I know it's tough for some people, but generally we live in a caring society. We live in a great country, but we're no longer a great power. Part of the problem with some elements of the European debate is that they hanker for the days when we were a great power. Those days are gone, and they went a long time ago.” [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises Britain’s safety and social care but notes its loss of global influence and nostalgic longing for past power. **In simple terms:** Britain is safe and caring but no longer a world power. Key Takeaway Recognize current strengths while adapting to changed global role. Themes national identity political nostalgia global power social welfare Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type political social commentary. When to use this quote - public discourse - policy debates - educational curricula - media analysis Key Concepts post‑imperial decline collective memory citizen sentiment Questions to Reflect On - How can Britain leverage its social strengths without clinging to past power? - What policies reflect a modern, caring society? A Different Perspective Nostalgia can hinder realistic policy planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Great power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-power/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [I lived in London in 1965 and 1972. I love it there and I'm always very creative in that vibe. Would love to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/creed-bratton/i-lived-in-london-in-1965-and-1972-i-love-it-there-and-i-m-always/) [Creed Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/creed-bratton/) > [Britain has a great sense of its own national pride. It's like the monarchy is the embodiment of that pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/britain-has-a-great-sense-of-its-own-national-pride-it-s-like-the/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [In Britain, there was always a great connection between me and the gallery. It was a very good chemistry because I was never flat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/in-britain-there-was-always-a-great-connection-between-me-and-the/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [Brexit stops Britain from being Great Britain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/brexit-stops-britain-from-being-great-britain/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [Britain's great strength is its innovative, design and engineering natural ability and we're not using it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/britain-s-great-strength-is-its-innovative-design-and-engineering/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [We had to do what we had to do - Britain is great again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-had-to-do-what-we-had-to-do-britain-is-great-again/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [America, a country that is no longer contained by physical borders, aspires only for more power and control. I want to maximize my usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anohni/america-a-country-that-is-no-longer-contained-by-physical-borders/) [Anohni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anohni/) > [When people ask me where I am from I never say, 'Serbia.' I always say, 'I come from a country that no longer exists.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/when-people-ask-me-where-i-am-from-i-never-say-serbia-i-always-say-i/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I never say Serbia. 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I'm writing in the language, and I like the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/i-don-t-believe-in-that-country-any-longer-i-m-not-interested-i-m/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Reagan is doing to the country what he can no longer do to his wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/reagan-is-doing-to-the-country-what-he-can-no-longer-do-to-his-wife/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-stout/only-in-the-winter-in-the-country-can-you-have-longer-quiet-stretches/) [Ruth Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stout/) > [I want a great country. I want people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-want-a-great-country-i-want-people-happy/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoeven/from-the-world-wars-of-europe-to-the-jungles-of-the-far-east-from-the/) [John Hoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hoeven/) ## More by Billy Bragg > [In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who were involved in the struggle knew why they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/in-that-sense-i-became-politicized-because-the-people-in-the-coal/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [“A virtue never tested is no virtue at all. - Must I Paint You a Picture ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/a-virtue-never-tested-is-no-virtue-at-all-must-i-paint-you-a-picture/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [Never trust anyone who has no doubts. And I'm not talking about scepticism either: scepticism can be a healthy thing. You can have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/never-trust-anyone-who-has-no-doubts-and-i-m-not-talking-about/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [I'm trying to make a case for those people who don't have a sense of belonging that they should have, that there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/i-m-trying-to-make-a-case-for-those-people-who-don-t-have-a-sense-of/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [There are quite a few honest songwriters out there writing about relationships and their own personality traits. But for some reason, once they step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/there-are-quite-a-few-honest-songwriters-out-there-writing-about/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [By the time I was 19, punk had occurred. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/the-evil-lot-who-did-that-thing-on-september-11-did-it-because-they/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [Certainly, the international image of the United States today is a lot less positive than 10 years ago. And that really shouldn't be, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/certainly-the-international-image-of-the-united-states-today-is-a-lot/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [I'd like to think that in a generation or two we'll have politicians whose life experience reflects that of the people who are voting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/i-d-like-to-think-that-in-a-generation-or-two-we-ll-have-politicians/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [I came into this whole business by going to see Rock Against Racism gigs with the Clash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/i-came-into-this-whole-business-by-going-to-see-rock-against-racism/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [“Freedom is merely privilege extended Unless enjoyed by one and all. - The Internationale ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/freedom-is-merely-privilege-extended-unless-enjoyed-by-one-and-all/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [War what is it good for? It's good for business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/war-what-is-it-good-for-it-s-good-for-business/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) [Explore all 77 Billy Bragg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) ## More Britain quotes > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/) [Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/) > [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because there is a host. The Church of England is a good host, it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/we-from-every-religion-feel-comfortable-in-britain-because-there-is-a/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I am the last of Britain's stately homos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-am-the-last-of-britain-s-stately-homos/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [ As for whether what happened in Britain improves\[Donald\] Trump's chances of winning, I don't think so. He has the same chances; we may just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/as-for-whether-what-happened-in-britain-improves-donald-trump-s/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) > [Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/britain-like-other-european-states-is-not-and-never-will-again-be-in/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [Germany has always stood for an E.U. of the 27 countries. But in light of Britain's continued resistance to further integration steps, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/germany-has-always-stood-for-an-e-u-of-the-27-countries-but-in-light/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) [Browse all 1,648 Britain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what we like, and we can walk down the street without anyone trying to kill us. I know it's tough for some people, but generally we live in a caring society. 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