--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Australia is properly speaking an island…" description: "\"Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a continent ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png" --- # Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so… ![“Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude.” quote by Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png) > “Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude.” [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Australia’s size exceeds typical island definitions, so it’s labeled a continent to convey its vastness. **In simple terms:** Australia is huge, so it’s called a continent. Key Takeaway Recognize scale when categorizing geography. Themes geography scale classification Mood informative neutral Type educational descriptive When to use this quote - education - travel planning - cartography - environmental policy Key Concepts continent definition perception of size Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect our understanding of place? - What other regions might be mis‑classified? A Different Perspective Calling it a continent may oversimplify ecological differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) [Continent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continent/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) ## Related quotes > [We have much to contribute to the world; ways of knowing and being that are going to be essential to everyone's survival on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dodson/we-have-much-to-contribute-to-the-world-ways-of-knowing-and-being/) [Patrick Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dodson/) > [The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-larger-the-island-of-knowledge-the-longer-the-shoreline-of-wonder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The larger the island of knowledge, the lofer the shorline of wonder...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-larger-the-island-of-knowledge-the-lofer-the-shorline-of-wonder/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I think Africa is the most interesting continent on the planet. You look at a country like Egypt, and you look at a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-think-africa-is-the-most-interesting-continent-on-the-planet-you/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [Australia is the only island continent on the planet, which means that changes caused by planet-warming pollution - warmer seas, which can drive stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/australia-is-the-only-island-continent-on-the-planet-which-means-that/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [The forests of America, however slighted by man, must have been a great delight to God; for they were the best he ever planted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-forests-of-america-however-slighted-by-man-must-have-been-a-great/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [I represent a great continent. People ask, Is there pressure on me? I don't feel pressure at all. It's an unbelievable challenge for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/i-represent-a-great-continent-people-ask-is-there-pressure-on-me-i/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [Africa is a continent that provides so much for the existence of the rest of the world. We go around the world and cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djimon-hounsou/africa-is-a-continent-that-provides-so-much-for-the-existence-of-the/) [Djimon Hounsou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djimon-hounsou/) > [I think people in Botswana are pleased that my books paint a positive picture of their lives and portray the country as being very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-think-people-in-botswana-are-pleased-that-my-books-paint-a-positive/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Africa is not a country, but it is a continent like none other. It has that which is elegantly vast or awfully little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/africa-is-not-a-country-but-it-is-a-continent-like-none-other-it-has/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [From time to time the continent shifts, and everything that isn't fastened down slides into Southern California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/from-time-to-time-the-continent-shifts-and-everything-that-isn-t/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“What does Africa — what does the West stand for? Is not our own interior white on the chart? black though it may prove,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-does-africa-what-does-the-west-stand-for-is-not-our-own-interior/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [Entire new continent can emerge from the ocean in the time it takes for a Web page to show up on your screen. Contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/entire-new-continent-can-emerge-from-the-ocean-in-the-time-it-takes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The resources of our continent attract, more than ever, the interests of rich countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/the-resources-of-our-continent-attract-more-than-ever-the-interests/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) ## More by Charles Sturt > [The main consideration with those who, possessing some capital, propose to emigrate as the means of improving their condition, is, the society likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/the-main-consideration-with-those-who-possessing-some-capital-propose/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those fearful droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/the-year-1826-was-remarkable-for-the-commencement-of-one-of-those/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [On the subject of emigration, it is not my intention to dwell at any length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/on-the-subject-of-emigration-it-is-not-my-intention-to-dwell-at-any/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [Yet, upon the whole, the space I traversed is unlikely to become the haunt of civilized man, or will only become so in isolated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/yet-upon-the-whole-the-space-i-traversed-is-unlikely-to-become-the/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [I had no inducement to proceed further into the interior. I had been sufficiently disappointed in the termination of this excursion, and the track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/i-had-no-inducement-to-proceed-further-into-the-interior-i-had-been/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [The staple of our Australian colonies, but more particularly of New South Wales, the climate and the soil of which are peculiarly suited to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/the-staple-of-our-australian-colonies-but-more-particularly-of-new/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [It is to be feared that those who emigrate to New South Wales, generally anticipate too great facility in their future operations and certainty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/it-is-to-be-feared-that-those-who-emigrate-to-new-south-wales/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [If we strike a line to the N.W. from Sydney to Wellington Valley, we shall find that little change takes place in the geological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/if-we-strike-a-line-to-the-n-w-from-sydney-to-wellington-valley-we/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [In a colony constituted like that of New South Wales, the proportion of crime must of course be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/in-a-colony-constituted-like-that-of-new-south-wales-the-proportion/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [These matters having been arranged, I had a temporary awning erected near the river, and was for three or four days busily employed writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/these-matters-having-been-arranged-i-had-a-temporary-awning-erected/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [We had not seen any natives for many days, but a few passed the camp on the opposite side of the river on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/we-had-not-seen-any-natives-for-many-days-but-a-few-passed-the-camp/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [Now it is evident that a little insight into the customs of every people is necessary to insure a kindly communication; this, joined with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/now-it-is-evident-that-a-little-insight-into-the-customs-of-every/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [We moved leisurely towards Mount Foster, on the 22nd, and arrived opposite to it a little before sunset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/we-moved-leisurely-towards-mount-foster-on-the-22nd-and-arrived/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [The increasing importance of Sydney must in some measure be attributed to the flourishing condition of the colony itself, to the industry of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/the-increasing-importance-of-sydney-must-in-some-measure-be/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [In this eventful period the colony of New South Wales is already far advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/in-this-eventful-period-the-colony-of-new-south-wales-is-already-far/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) [Explore all 19 Charles Sturt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) ## More Australia quotes > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I wanted to have a peaceful married life with my wife, so we both moved to Sydney in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-wanted-to-have-a-peaceful-married-life-with-my-wife-so-we-both/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [It will be nice to play against Australia. It's a great country, and football is getting bigger and bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/it-will-be-nice-to-play-against-australia-it-s-a-great-country-and/) [Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/) > [We don't have any sailors in Australia, we have rowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lexcen/we-don-t-have-any-sailors-in-australia-we-have-rowers/) Ben Lexcen > [I think that prosecuting some college kid because she shared a file is a lot like sending somebody to Australia 200 years ago for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-think-that-prosecuting-some-college-kid-because-she-shared-a-file/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [Sydney CBD is the eastern city, Parramatta is the central city and Badgerys will be the third city in greater Sydney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/sydney-cbd-is-the-eastern-city-parramatta-is-the-central-city-and/) [Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/) > [No matter what day we celebrate Australia Day, let's celebrate it together and give thanks to the original inhabitants of this vast country. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/no-matter-what-day-we-celebrate-australia-day-let-s-celebrate-it/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [As a young kid you stay up late to watch the Ashes, getting told off for not being in bed, and dream of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-bairstow/as-a-young-kid-you-stay-up-late-to-watch-the-ashes-getting-told-off/) [Jonny Bairstow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-bairstow/) > [I love coming out to Australia, if it weren't so far away I would go all the time. I've worked with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-morillo/i-love-coming-out-to-australia-if-it-weren-t-so-far-away-i-would-go/) [Erick Morillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-morillo/) > [What I appreciated was the fact that the script delved into how Australians were - and still are - condescended to by the English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/what-i-appreciated-was-the-fact-that-the-script-delved-into-how/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [Okay the names 360, I run around tipsy. My fellas in Australia all sit with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/360/okay-the-names-360-i-run-around-tipsy-my-fellas-in-australia-all-sit/) 360 > [Coal is the moral choice, particularly for the developing world... The model for the world right now should be Australia. Australia gets it. Scientifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morano/coal-is-the-moral-choice-particularly-for-the-developing-world-the/) Marc Morano > [I want to be part of the team that wins a Test series in England and Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-gambhir/i-want-to-be-part-of-the-team-that-wins-a-test-series-in-england-and/) [Gautam Gambhir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-gambhir/) > [I was brought up in a Christian home in Australia with a father who was very bold about his faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/i-was-brought-up-in-a-christian-home-in-australia-with-a-father-who/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) [Browse all 1,907 Australia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Sturt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island-but-it-is-so-much-larger/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Australia" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island-but-it-is-so-much-larger/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/charles-sturt-28677_australia_australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island_2306663.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than every other island on the face of…” — Charles Sturt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Sturt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Australia is properly speaking an island,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island-but-it-is-so-much-larger/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/australia-is-properly-speaking-an-island-but-it-is-so-much-larger/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```