--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not…" description: "\"The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe.\" — Frans Timmermans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg" --- # The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe. ![“The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe.” quote by Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg) > “The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe.” [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The UK is exiting the EU politically but remains culturally European. **In simple terms:** Brexit separates politics, not culture. Key Takeaway Separate political and cultural ties. Themes politics culture identity Europe Mood analytical neutral Type commentary political When to use this quote - policy analysis - cultural exchange - media commentary Key Concepts national sovereignty cultural integration post-Brexit dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can cultural ties survive political separation? - What policies preserve shared identity? A Different Perspective May overlook economic ties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) ## Related quotes > [When I started thinking about the possibility of leaving for Europe, I saw Bob Bradley and what he went through and I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/when-i-started-thinking-about-the-possibility-of-leaving-for-europe-i/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [Leaving Europe in my mind wasn't the best thing; it's not the best way of having that political voice. But that's the only voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/leaving-europe-in-my-mind-wasn-t-the-best-thing-it-s-not-the-best-way/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [We will not try to out-Ukip Ukip. Labour is not going to offer false solutions, such as leaving Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/we-will-not-try-to-out-ukip-ukip-labour-is-not-going-to-offer-false/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I can't see myself going anywhere else in the world or leaving Europe, having what I have at Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kerr/i-can-t-see-myself-going-anywhere-else-in-the-world-or-leaving-europe/) [Sam Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kerr/) > [Here I am on the shore of Brittany. Let the cities light up in the evening. My day is done. I am leaving Europe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/here-i-am-on-the-shore-of-brittany-let-the-cities-light-up-in-the/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [We need to be clear - leaving the single market will put trade and jobs at risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/we-need-to-be-clear-leaving-the-single-market-will-put-trade-and-jobs/) [Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/) > [Leaving the E.U. with no deal means Britain would default to World Trade Organisation rules with our biggest trading partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/leaving-the-e-u-with-no-deal-means-britain-would-default-to-world/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/leaving-north-korea-is-not-like-leaving-any-other-country-it-is-more/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd ## More by Frans Timmermans > [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [If nationalism makes us poor, weak, and morally insecure, how can it claim to be patriotic? I maintain that nationalists are unpatriotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/if-nationalism-makes-us-poor-weak-and-morally-insecure-how-can-it/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [The Netherlands believes in a vigorous Europe with a commission that is independent and robust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-netherlands-believes-in-a-vigorous-europe-with-a-commission-that/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Protectionism has never been an answer, will never be an answer. We need trade. We need trade agreements worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/protectionism-has-never-been-an-answer-will-never-be-an-answer-we/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Let's be clear: a nationalist is not a patriot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/let-s-be-clear-a-nationalist-is-not-a-patriot/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [It is a duty for any government to uphold the rule of law, and this sometimes requires the proportionate use of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/it-is-a-duty-for-any-government-to-uphold-the-rule-of-law-and-this/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Since when is politics consistent?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/since-when-is-politics-consistent/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [This is the game of those who deny climate change or who deny the need for sustainability. They say, 'They are going to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/this-is-the-game-of-those-who-deny-climate-change-or-who-deny-the/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [How many millions of straws do we use every day across Europe? I would have people not use plastic straws any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/how-many-millions-of-straws-do-we-use-every-day-across-europe-i-would/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [What is the issue that has brought the European Union to the brink? The issue of migration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/what-is-the-issue-that-has-brought-the-european-union-to-the-brink/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [For all its shortcomings, European co-operation and integration has created an understanding of shared destiny. We no longer point guns at each other; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/for-all-its-shortcomings-european-co-operation-and-integration-has/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I want Europe to go forward, not backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/i-want-europe-to-go-forward-not-backward/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Nationalism makes us weak because its eternal seeking of enemies, its disdain of others, its need to feel superior makes cooperation with other nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/nationalism-makes-us-weak-because-its-eternal-seeking-of-enemies-its/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I think we have a political and moral duty to do everything within our power to maintain the Good Friday Agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/i-think-we-have-a-political-and-moral-duty-to-do-everything-within/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue, and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem because plastic waste ends up in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/plastic-waste-is-undeniably-a-big-issue-and-europeans-need-to-act/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) [Explore all 68 Frans Timmermans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) ## More Europe quotes > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr-2/conservatism-aims-to-maintain-in-working-order-the-loyalties-of-the/) [William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr-2/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [Conservatives are people who look at a tree and feel instinctively that it is more beautiful than anything they can name. But when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/conservatives-are-people-who-look-at-a-tree-and-feel-instinctively/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) [Browse all 7,565 Europe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frans Timmermans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Europe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/frans-timmermans-9984_europe_the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europ_1439689.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The U.K. is leaving the E.U. but not Europe.” — Frans Timmermans", "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": "Frans Timmermans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The U.K. is leaving the E.U....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-u-k-is-leaving-the-e-u-but-not-europe/#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 } } ] } ```