--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great Britain has lost an Empire and not…" description: "\"Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role. The attempt to playa separate power rolethat is, a role apart from Europe, based on a specia..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/dean-acheson-14457_attempting_great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-not_2304976.jpg" --- # Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role… ![“Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role. The attempt to playa separate power rolethat is, a role apart from Europe, based on a special relationship with the United States, on being the head of the Commonwealthis about to be played out. Her Majesty's Government is now attempting…” quote by Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/dean-acheson-14457_attempting_great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-not_2304976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/dean-acheson-14457_attempting_great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-not_2304976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/dean-acheson-14457_attempting_great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-not_2304976.jpg) > “Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role. The attempt to playa separate power rolethat is, a role apart from Europe, based on a special relationship with the United States, on being the head of the Commonwealthis about to be played out. Her Majesty's Government is now attempting, wisely in my opinion, to re-enter Europe.” [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Britain lost its empire and struggles to find a new purpose, considering a special US tie and possible EU re‑entry **In simple terms:** Britain needs a clear role after empire loss Key Takeaway Define a modern national purpose Themes history politics identity Mood reflective concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - foreign policy reform - EU membership debate - US‑UK relations - national identity projects Key Concepts Geopolitics post‑colonialism strategic alliances Questions to Reflect On - What role should Britain pursue today? - How can historic ties shape future policy? A Different Perspective Re‑entering Europe may face domestic opposition and economic constraints ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Britain Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain-lost-1601535/) [Empire Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empire-role-2183771/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Great britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-britain/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Majesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majesty/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Playas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playas-145322/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power Rolethat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-rolethat-5457881/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-relationship/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [Great Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-has-not-yet-found-a-role/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The strategy we must follow is to defend the special relationship between Great Britain and Europe and, more specifically, between Europe and France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/the-strategy-we-must-follow-is-to-defend-the-special-relationship/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [I bet you never heard of a playa with no game, Told the truth to get what I want, but shot it with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-benjamin/i-bet-you-never-heard-of-a-playa-with-no-game-told-the-truth-to-get/) [Andre Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-benjamin/) > [A lot of people get a misconception And start drifting in the wrong direction Miss Goody Two Shoes see you later I ain't got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rappin-4-tay/a-lot-of-people-get-a-misconception-and-start-drifting-in-the-wrong/) [Rappin' 4-Tay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rappin-4-tay/) > [“And what if Britain lost? There would be a financial crisis, unemployment, and destitution. Working-class men would take up Ethel’s father’s cry and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/and-what-if-britain-lost-there-would-be-a-financial-crisis/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [The dark cloud, which had been cleared by the Phoenician discoveries, and finally dispelled by the arms of Caesar, again settled on the shores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-dark-cloud-which-had-been-cleared-by-the-phoenician-discoveries/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [He no playa the game, he no maka the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-butz/he-no-playa-the-game-he-no-maka-the-rules/) [Earl Butz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-butz/) > [The special relationship between America and the UK has been one of the great forces in history for justice and for peace, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-special-relationship-between-america-and-the-uk-has-been-one-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [At the 'Guardian,' we have a special relationship with our readers. This relationship is not just about the news; it's about a shared sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/at-the-guardian-we-have-a-special-relationship-with-our-readers-this/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [ What's going to be important is having the opportunity to actually sit down with President \[Donald\] Trump and talk to him face to face,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/what-s-going-to-be-important-is-having-the-opportunity-to-actually/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [People in this country, Britons, have a special relationship with dogs. And like the millions of dog owners across our great nation, my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-sharma/people-in-this-country-britons-have-a-special-relationship-with-dogs/) [Alok Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-sharma/) > [I think that Bill and Hillary Clinton have a very special relationship and I think in very many ways to them it's a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennifer-flowers/i-think-that-bill-and-hillary-clinton-have-a-very-special/) [Gennifer Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennifer-flowers/) > [The only guy I would not fight is Wanderlei Silva because I really have a special relationship with him that goes back a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-rua/the-only-guy-i-would-not-fight-is-wanderlei-silva-because-i-really/) [Mauricio Rua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-rua/) > [Anyhow, we obviously understand that, being a United States' ally and having a special relationship with it, the UK in its relations with Russian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/anyhow-we-obviously-understand-that-being-a-united-states-ally-and/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I think I will always feel a special relationship with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, because for me it was something very, very special. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-deneuve/i-think-i-will-always-feel-a-special-relationship-with-the-umbrellas/) [Catherine Deneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-deneuve/) ## More by Dean Acheson > [How could the USA champion individual freedom in the world generally while denying it to an important minority in its own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/how-could-the-usa-champion-individual-freedom-in-the-world-generally/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The test for aid to poor nations is therefore whether it makes them capable of being productive. If it fails to do so, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-test-for-aid-to-poor-nations-is-therefore-whether-it-makes-them/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [To leave positions of great responsibility and authority is to die a little, but the time comes when that must be faced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/to-leave-positions-of-great-responsibility-and-authority-is-to-die-a/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Between 9 and 10 AM the American radio is concerned almost exclusively with love. It seems a little like ending breakfast with a stiff bourbon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/between-9-and-10-am-the-american-radio-is-concerned-almost/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [It is worse than immoral, it's a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/it-is-worse-than-immoral-it-s-a-mistake/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Great Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-has-not-yet-found-a-role/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The Iraqi is really not whacky toady, perhaps, even tacky. When they gave him the word, he gave us the bird and joined with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-iraqi-is-really-not-whacky-toady-perhaps-even-tacky-when-they/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [If we learn the art of yielding what must be yielded to the changing present, we can save the best of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/if-we-learn-the-art-of-yielding-what-must-be-yielded-to-the-changing/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Negotiating in the classic diplomatic sense assumes parties more anxious to agree than to disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/negotiating-in-the-classic-diplomatic-sense-assumes-parties-more/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Washington is like a self-sealing tank on a military aircraft. When a bullet passes through, it closes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/washington-is-like-a-self-sealing-tank-on-a-military-aircraft-when-a/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/a-memorandum-is-written-not-to-inform-the-reader-but-to-protect-the/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Americans assume Canada to be bestowed as a right and accept this bounty, as they do air, without thought or appreciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/americans-assume-canada-to-be-bestowed-as-a-right-and-accept-this/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [I learned from the example of my father that the manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/i-learned-from-the-example-of-my-father-that-the-manner-in-which-one/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The trouble with a free market economy is that it requires so many policemen to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-trouble-with-a-free-market-economy-is-that-it-requires-so-many/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [I think Churchill is right, the only thing to be said for democracy is that there is nothing else that's any better, and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/i-think-churchill-is-right-the-only-thing-to-be-said-for-democracy-is/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) [Explore all 46 Dean Acheson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" 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(Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. 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