--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have the character of an island…" description: "\"We have the character of an island nation: independent, forthright, passionate in defence of our sovereignty. We can no more change this British sensib..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/david-cameron-1858_british_we-have-the-character-of-an-island-natio_2689299.png" --- # We have the character of an island nation: independent… ![“We have the character of an island nation: independent, forthright, passionate in defence of our sovereignty. We can no more change this British sensibility than we can drain the English Channel. And because of this sensibility, we come to the European Union with a frame of mind that is more…” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/david-cameron-1858_british_we-have-the-character-of-an-island-natio_2689299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/david-cameron-1858_british_we-have-the-character-of-an-island-natio_2689299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/david-cameron-1858_british_we-have-the-character-of-an-island-natio_2689299.png) > “We have the character of an island nation: independent, forthright, passionate in defence of our sovereignty. We can no more change this British sensibility than we can drain the English Channel. And because of this sensibility, we come to the European Union with a frame of mind that is more practical than emotional.” [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’s independent spirit resists change, influencing its pragmatic EU approach. **In simple terms:** Britain is stubbornly independent. Key Takeaway Leverage national identity in policy decisions. Themes sovereignty pragmatism national identity EU relations politics culture Mood political strategic Type policy historical When to use this quote - parliamentary debate - foreign policy planning - public opinion polling - media commentary - academic research Key Concepts independence practicality collective bargaining Questions to Reflect On - How does independence affect cooperation? - Can pragmatism outweigh tradition? A Different Perspective Stubbornness can hinder compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Come European](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-european-2057411/) [Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence/) [Drains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drains/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [European union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-union/) [Frame of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame-of-mind/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Independent Forthright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-forthright-2645682/) [Island Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/island-nation-1598748/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nation Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-independent-2645681/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Sensibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensibility/) [Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [In Western Europe, Turkey is regarded as uncivilized, so they can't come in into the European Union until they're civilized. I think it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-western-europe-turkey-is-regarded-as-uncivilized-so-they-can-t/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The military system of a nation is not an independent section of the social system but an aspect of its totality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/the-military-system-of-a-nation-is-not-an-independent-section-of-the/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [Scratch below the surface, and you will find I am a patriotic little thing, desperately proud to be part of this island nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hopkins/scratch-below-the-surface-and-you-will-find-i-am-a-patriotic-little/) [Katie Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hopkins/) > [We are an island nation and yet, in the 43 years I have lived in England, I believe I've only heard two Public Service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulrika-jonsson/we-are-an-island-nation-and-yet-in-the-43-years-i-have-lived-in/) [Ulrika Jonsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulrika-jonsson/) > [“i'm off to an island nation where formal wear consists of a leaf tired around a penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/i-m-off-to-an-island-nation-where-formal-wear-consists-of-a-leaf/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [ I simply constructed a project to try to snap Kurt \[Cobain\] out of a frame of mind. I sent him a plane ticket and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-simply-constructed-a-project-to-try-to-snap-kurt-cobain-out-of-a/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [Once you get into the right frame of mind, that means you have your full senses and your attitude is straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshach-tula/once-you-get-into-the-right-frame-of-mind-that-means-you-have-your/) [Meshach Tula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshach-tula/) > [That frame of mind that you need to make fine pictures of a very wonderful subject, you cannot do it by not being lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/that-frame-of-mind-that-you-need-to-make-fine-pictures-of-a-very/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [As a player all we can do is prepare well, build a good frame of mind and work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/as-a-player-all-we-can-do-is-prepare-well-build-a-good-frame-of-mind/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > [Long ago made it a principle of my life to cultivate a positive frame of mind, to strive to project it and to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/long-ago-made-it-a-principle-of-my-life-to-cultivate-a-positive-frame/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [“There was some kind of cultural cause for the decline of the ancient world. It was neither corruption of public spirit nor Christianity. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/there-was-some-kind-of-cultural-cause-for-the-decline-of-the-ancient/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [Beginning is not only a kind of action. It is also a frame of mind, a kind of work, an attitude, a consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/beginning-is-not-only-a-kind-of-action-it-is-also-a-frame-of-mind-a/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [“The mass of men have been forced to be gay about the little things, but sad about the big ones. Nevertheless (I offer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-mass-of-men-have-been-forced-to-be-gay-about-the-little-things/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Christmas isn't just a day. It's a frame of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christmas-isn-t-just-a-day-it-s-a-frame-of-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Being in the right frame of mind helps you see the technicolour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/being-in-the-right-frame-of-mind-helps-you-see-the-technicolour/) [Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/) ## More by David Cameron > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. 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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 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. 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