--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Britain is characterised not just by its…" description: "\"Britain is characterised not just by its independence but, above all, by its openness. We have always been a country that reaches out. That turns its f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/david-cameron-1858_britain_britain-is-characterised-not-just-by-its_459815.png" --- # Britain is characterised not just by its independence but… ![“Britain is characterised not just by its independence but, above all, by its openness. We have always been a country that reaches out. That turns its face to the world.” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/david-cameron-1858_britain_britain-is-characterised-not-just-by-its_459815.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/david-cameron-1858_britain_britain-is-characterised-not-just-by-its_459815.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/david-cameron-1858_britain_britain-is-characterised-not-just-by-its_459815.png) > “Britain is characterised not just by its independence but, above all, by its openness. We have always been a country that reaches out. That turns its face to the world.” [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Britain values independence and openness, actively engaging with the world. **In simple terms:** Britain is independent and open, reaching out globally. Key Takeaway Embrace openness while maintaining independence. Themes independence openness global engagement national identity Mood proud optimistic reflective Type political inspirational When to use this quote - foreign policy - international trade - cultural exchange - tourism Key Concepts political philosophy soft power cultural diplomacy Questions to Reflect On - How can Britain balance independence with global openness? - What policies best reflect this openness? A Different Perspective Openness can be challenged by domestic pressures for isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Britain Characterised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain-characterised-3996544/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [Openness Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness-country-3996545/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Reach out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach-out/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [History provides many examples of democracy crushed by people who said to be the champion of "genuine democracy" and "the people's real meaning". The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olof-palme/history-provides-many-examples-of-democracy-crushed-by-people-who/) [Olof Palme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olof-palme/) > [Competitiveness demands flexibility, choice and openness - or Europe will fetch up in a no-man's land between the rising economies of Asia and market-driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/competitiveness-demands-flexibility-choice-and-openness-or-europe/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We are a great country, and whatever choice we make we will still be great. But I believe the choice is between being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-are-a-great-country-and-whatever-choice-we-make-we-will-still-be/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I'll be explaining that Britain will be leaving the European Union, but I want that process to be as constructive as possible. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-ll-be-explaining-that-britain-will-be-leaving-the-european-union/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I am not a British isolationist. I don't just want a better deal for Britain. I want a better deal for Europe too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-am-not-a-british-isolationist-i-don-t-just-want-a-better-deal-for/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [It does not seem to me that the steps which would be needed to make Britain - and others - more comfortable in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/it-does-not-seem-to-me-that-the-steps-which-would-be-needed-to-make/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [If Donald Trump came to visit Britain I think he would unite us all against him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/if-donald-trump-came-to-visit-britain-i-think-he-would-unite-us-all/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Just as I believe that Britain should want to remain in the EU so the EU should want us to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/just-as-i-believe-that-britain-should-want-to-remain-in-the-eu-so-the/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain's is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-will-reflect-the-country-we-aspire-to-govern-and-the-sound-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [More Irishmen died fighting for Britain in World War I than died fighting against her in all of Ireland's bids for independence combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/more-irishmen-died-fighting-for-britain-in-world-war-i-than-died/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/that-these-united-colonies-are-and-of-right-ought-to-be-free-and/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Out in the field I try not to hold expectations. I try to achieve an openness. The senses heighten so that I am totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-lazelle/out-in-the-field-i-try-not-to-hold-expectations-i-try-to-achieve-an/) [Keith Lazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-lazelle/) > [Lucasfilm has always had an openness to technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/lucasfilm-has-always-had-an-openness-to-technology/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) ## More by David Cameron > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [There is not, in my view, a single European demos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/there-is-not-in-my-view-a-single-european-demos/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. 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Britain will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-this-referendum-should-settle-the-matter-i/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain's is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-will-reflect-the-country-we-aspire-to-govern-and-the-sound-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I've said I'll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-ve-said-i-ll-stand-for-a-full-second-term-but-i-think-after-that-it/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice is a path to ensuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/simply-asking-the-british-people-to-carry-on-accepting-a-european/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [All those countries who keep their aid promises should be proud of what they've done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/all-those-countries-who-keep-their-aid-promises-should-be-proud-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/easter-is-all-about-remembering-the-importance-of-change/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I like democracy. I like to be able to throw out my political leaders when they get things wrong, and we don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-like-democracy-i-like-to-be-able-to-throw-out-my-political-leaders/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The EU must be able to act with the speed and flexibility of a network, not the cumbersome rigidity of a bloc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-eu-must-be-able-to-act-with-the-speed-and-flexibility-of-a/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) [Explore all 203 David Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## 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. 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