--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know the British people and they are…" description: "\"I know the British people and they are not passengers - they are drivers.\" — David Cameron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png" --- # I know the British people and they are not passengers… ![“I know the British people and they are not passengers - they are drivers.” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png) > “I know the British people and they are not passengers - they are drivers.” [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. He emphasizes that the British are active participants, not passive observers, in shaping their society. **In simple terms:** British are active, not passive. Key Takeaway Recognize your agency. Themes leadership citizenship agency Mood proud determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - political discourse - community projects - public policy - everyday decision making Key Concepts civic engagement social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you see your role in society? - What actions demonstrate active citizenship? A Different Perspective Assumes uniform national character, which may not hold for all individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-people/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The fact that people didn't know I was British did work for quite a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-forlani/the-fact-that-people-didn-t-know-i-was-british-did-work-for-quite-a/) [Claire Forlani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-forlani/) > [We know that the British public are obsessed with class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/we-know-that-the-british-public-are-obsessed-with-class/) [Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/) > [I know I'm British. I haven't spent much time in the U.K., but my parents are British, my family heritage is British, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-froome/i-know-i-m-british-i-haven-t-spent-much-time-in-the-u-k-but-my/) [Chris Froome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-froome/) > [I don't know much about British TV. Actually me, I'm looking more at American ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-helin/i-don-t-know-much-about-british-tv-actually-me-i-m-looking-more-at/) [Sofia Helin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-helin/) > [I know too much about British politics to comment on British politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helle-thorning-schmidt/i-know-too-much-about-british-politics-to-comment-on-british-politics/) [Helle Thorning-Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helle-thorning-schmidt/) > [I don't even know if I'm British any more. I'm transatlantic, I'm European.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/i-don-t-even-know-if-i-m-british-any-more-i-m-transatlantic-i-m/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [“To know a British man is to understand accomplishment and the infinite purity of satisfaction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-awesome-nancy-harris/to-know-a-british-man-is-to-understand-accomplishment-and-the/) The Awesome Nancy Harris > [Do people who wave at trains Wave at the driver, or at the train itself? Or, do people who wave at trains Wave at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcgough/do-people-who-wave-at-trains-wave-at-the-driver-or-at-the-train/) [Roger McGough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcgough/) > [Civility is only a passenger - not a driver - on the information superhighway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rittner/civility-is-only-a-passenger-not-a-driver-on-the-information/) [Don Rittner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rittner/) > [I need to call Matt and let him know I'm okay," I said. Finn held the passenger door open while I got inside. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-need-to-call-matt-and-let-him-know-i-m-okay-i-said-finn-held-the/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Love has as few problems as a motor car. The only problems are the driver, the passengers, and the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/love-has-as-few-problems-as-a-motor-car-the-only-problems-are-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [I'm somebody who doesn't feel the need to be in the driver's seat all the time. I appreciate the perspective of being in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-m-somebody-who-doesn-t-feel-the-need-to-be-in-the-driver-s-seat-all/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [A big business man was telling Henry Ford about a coach driver of super-expertness with his whip. The driver was telling how he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-big-business-man-was-telling-henry-ford-about-a-coach-driver-of/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [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/) ## 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. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The murders in Paris are sickening, we stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-murders-in-paris-are-sickening-we-stand-with-the-french-people-in/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I have a very clear view, which is that if you disagree with the policies of Israel, fine, say so, but that is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-have-a-very-clear-view-which-is-that-if-you-disagree-with-the/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [As far as I am concerned this referendum should settle the matter. I believe it will one way or another be decisive. 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 British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. 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. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' 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": "I know the British people and they are not passengers - they are drivers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Cameron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-not-passengers-they-are-drivers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-not-passengers-they-are-drivers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/david-cameron-1858_british_i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-n_548671.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know the British people and they are not passengers - they are drivers.” — David Cameron", "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": "David Cameron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know the British people and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-not-passengers-they-are-drivers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-know-the-british-people-and-they-are-not-passengers-they-are-drivers/#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 } } ] } ```