--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The 'Britishness' debate too often…" description: "\"The 'Britishness' debate too often descends into worthy flannel about common values and mutual respect. To give a hard edge to what it means to be Brit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/damian-green-4883_british_the-britishness-debate-too-often-descend_1500038.png" --- # The 'Britishness' debate too often descends into worthy… ![“The 'Britishness' debate too often descends into worthy flannel about common values and mutual respect. To give a hard edge to what it means to be British, you have to say what is un-British, and, if necessary, legislate to stop anyone committing un-British acts. Forced marriage falls squarely…” quote by Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/damian-green-4883_british_the-britishness-debate-too-often-descend_1500038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/damian-green-4883_british_the-britishness-debate-too-often-descend_1500038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/damian-green-4883_british_the-britishness-debate-too-often-descend_1500038.png) > “The 'Britishness' debate too often descends into worthy flannel about common values and mutual respect. To give a hard edge to what it means to be British, you have to say what is un-British, and, if necessary, legislate to stop anyone committing un-British acts. Forced marriage falls squarely into this category.” [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defining national identity requires naming and possibly outlawing actions that contradict core values, such as forced marriage. **In simple terms:** National identity needs clear standards and enforcement. Key Takeaway Identify and legislate against un‑British acts. Themes national identity law culture Mood critical concerned Type political controversial When to use this quote - policy making - legislation - public debate - education Key Concepts political theory human rights Questions to Reflect On - What defines “un‑British”? - How to balance cultural respect with legal enforcement? A Different Perspective Legislation may clash with personal freedoms and cultural diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mutual respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-respect/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Sinn Fein say, "The British government are buggers".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-mair/sinn-fein-say-the-british-government-are-buggers/) [Eddie Mair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-mair/) > [Some people try to say I'm British by the way I'm speaking. But I think I'm more Canadian, because I speak really slow. Midwestern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-fulcher/some-people-try-to-say-i-m-british-by-the-way-i-m-speaking-but-i/) [Rich Fulcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-fulcher/) > [It would be absurd to say I'm not British - you can hear it when I speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/it-would-be-absurd-to-say-i-m-not-british-you-can-hear-it-when-i-speak/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [Whenever I say a Harry Potter spell, I have to say it in a British accent or else it wouldn't sound right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/whenever-i-say-a-harry-potter-spell-i-have-to-say-it-in-a-british/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [The only society that works today is also one founded on mutual respect, on a recognition that we have a responsibility collectively and individually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-only-society-that-works-today-is-also-one-founded-on-mutual/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/in-a-world-darkened-by-ethnic-conflicts-that-tear-nations-apart/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [A friendship is always tested. 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When this breaks down it takes a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/a-good-society-is-characterised-not-just-by-liberty-but-by-mutual/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of tolerance, with forbearance one for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-must-work-harder-to-build-mutual-respect-an-attitude-of-tolerance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [What really holds their marriage together are mutual respect of an awesome depth, a shared sense of humor, faith that they were brought together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/what-really-holds-their-marriage-together-are-mutual-respect-of-an/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## More by Damian Green > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. 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I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. 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The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The 'Britishness' debate too often descends into worthy flannel about common values and mutual respect. 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