--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's the UK: We have to get beyond that…" description: "\"It's the UK: We have to get beyond that imperialist state. I think that kind of imperialist, hierarchical, elitist state has made it easier to basicall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/irvine-welsh-843_commonwealth_it-s-the-uk-we-have-to-get-beyond-that-i_1679087.png" --- # It's the UK: We have to get beyond that imperialist state… ![“It's the UK: We have to get beyond that imperialist state. I think that kind of imperialist, hierarchical, elitist state has made it easier to basically shaft everybody in the country, which it's been doing for the last thirty years. It has also sort of made it more difficult for England to…” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/irvine-welsh-843_commonwealth_it-s-the-uk-we-have-to-get-beyond-that-i_1679087.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/irvine-welsh-843_commonwealth_it-s-the-uk-we-have-to-get-beyond-that-i_1679087.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/irvine-welsh-843_commonwealth_it-s-the-uk-we-have-to-get-beyond-that-i_1679087.png) > “It's the UK: We have to get beyond that imperialist state. I think that kind of imperialist, hierarchical, elitist state has made it easier to basically shaft everybody in the country, which it's been doing for the last thirty years. It has also sort of made it more difficult for England to fulfill its destiny, which in my mind is creating a multi-ethnic, multicultural society that is truly at the head of that post-imperial commonwealth ideal. I think that that's what England should be and that that's the kind of nation we should be.” [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes the UK's imperialist, hierarchical, and elitist state, arguing it harms citizens and hinders England's potential as a multicultural, post‑imperial commonwealth nation. **In simple terms:** UK politics is seen as oppressive and limiting multicultural progress. Key Takeaway Advocate for inclusive, egalitarian governance. Themes politics national identity multiculturalism imperialism social justice Mood critical hopeful Type political social commentary When to use this quote - policy reform - community building - education on diversity - media representation Key Concepts post‑imperialism elitism hierarchy national destiny Questions to Reflect On - How can England balance heritage with multicultural aspirations? - What reforms could reduce elitist structures? A Different Perspective The critique may overlook economic constraints and differing public opinions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Elitist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elitist/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Imperialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperialist/) [Imperialist Hierarchical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperialist-hierarchical-938131/) [Imperialist State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperialist-state-938132/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Made it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-it/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Multicultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multicultural/) [Multicultural society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multicultural-society/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Posts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posts/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Think England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-england-478116/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty/) [Thirty years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty-years/) [Uk Imperialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uk-imperialist-938130/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Hawaii - the Aloha state - is built on the strength of its multicultural society, from our indigenous Native Hawaiian people to the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/hawaii-the-aloha-state-is-built-on-the-strength-of-its-multicultural/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [What's wrong with leading the way? We've played that role before, after all. We gave the world the secret ballot... that did so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/what-s-wrong-with-leading-the-way-we-ve-played-that-role-before-after/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [My dream would be a multicultural society, one that is diverse and where every man, woman and child are treated equally. I dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/my-dream-would-be-a-multicultural-society-one-that-is-diverse-and/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I believe all societies, all thriving societies of the future are going to be multicultural societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-believe-all-societies-all-thriving-societies-of-the-future-are/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [If you try to discuss multiculturalism in the UK you're labelled a racist. But here we're still free to talk, and I say multicultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pim-fortuyn/if-you-try-to-discuss-multiculturalism-in-the-uk-you-re-labelled-a/) [Pim Fortuyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pim-fortuyn/) > [“One now accomplished goal is the brainwashing of society into believing that because of the color of their skin or their gender, or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/one-now-accomplished-goal-is-the-brainwashing-of-society-into/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [Voyager' shows the reality of the multicultural society we live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beltran/voyager-shows-the-reality-of-the-multicultural-society-we-live-in/) [Robert Beltran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-beltran/) > [Genocide is not just a murderous madness; it is, more deeply, a politics that promises a utopia beyond politics - one people, one land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/genocide-is-not-just-a-murderous-madness-it-is-more-deeply-a-politics/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [I believe whether it is the United States or Europe, they will all end up as multicultural societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-believe-whether-it-is-the-united-states-or-europe-they-will-all-end/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [We know that a large majority of the Australian society is extremely comfortable with a multicultural society, that we accept that living in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-soutphommasane/we-know-that-a-large-majority-of-the-australian-society-is-extremely/) [Tim Soutphommasane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-soutphommasane/) > [In our multicultural society, it is inevitable that there will be a prime minister of colour at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/in-our-multicultural-society-it-is-inevitable-that-there-will-be-a/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I think it's a huge thing in a multicultural society that people know my name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/i-think-it-s-a-huge-thing-in-a-multicultural-society-that-people-know/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [We are living in a multicultural society. Our role as leaders is to enable grappling with this situation, even when multiculturalism is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/we-are-living-in-a-multicultural-society-our-role-as-leaders-is-to/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [I have been told many times that when I win I make my people proud to be Australian. I am Aboriginal, I am one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-have-been-told-many-times-that-when-i-win-i-make-my-people-proud-to/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [A 'multicultural society' is a logical and physical impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoshi-kanazawa/a-multicultural-society-is-a-logical-and-physical-impossibility/) [Satoshi Kanazawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoshi-kanazawa/) ## More by Irvine Welsh > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [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/) > [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) [Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More Commonwealth quotes > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Members in the Commonwealth of God are not bound together by the specifics of their religion, for the nature of our interdependency does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/members-in-the-commonwealth-of-god-are-not-bound-together-by-the/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) > [I would like to thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for the very fair manner in which this matter has been dealt with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-collins/i-would-like-to-thank-the-commonwealth-games-federation-for-the-very/) [Kim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-collins/) > [Though bachelors be the strongest stakes, married men are the best binders, in the hedge of the commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/though-bachelors-be-the-strongest-stakes-married-men-are-the-best/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as a kind of common property which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/believing-that-i-was-born-for-the-service-of-mankind-and-regarding/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I am prepared to resort to anything, to submit to anything, for the sake of the commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/i-am-prepared-to-resort-to-anything-to-submit-to-anything-for-the/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a divine commonwealth holiness must have the principal honor and encouragement, and a great difference be made between the precious and the vile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/in-a-divine-commonwealth-holiness-must-have-the-principal-honor-and/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [And who can doubt that it will lead to the worst disorders when minds created free by God are compelled to submit slavishly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/and-who-can-doubt-that-it-will-lead-to-the-worst-disorders-when-minds/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [In Boston, we don't lead by ourselves. We lead as the capital city and economic engine of a great Commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/in-boston-we-don-t-lead-by-ourselves-we-lead-as-the-capital-city-and/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [If the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, Britain will argue for Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/if-the-situation-in-zimbabwe-continues-to-deteriorate-britain-will/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [Because silver and gold have their value from the matter itself, they have first this privilege, that the value of them cannot be altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/because-silver-and-gold-have-their-value-from-the-matter-itself-they/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/what-reason-is-there-that-he-which-laboreth-much-and-sparing-the/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) [Browse all 251 Commonwealth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's the UK: We have to get beyond that imperialist state. I think that kind of imperialist, hierarchical, elitist state has made it easier to basically shaft everybody in the country, which it's been doing for the last thirty years. It has also sort of made it more difficult for England to fulfill its destiny, which in my mind is creating a multi-ethnic, multicultural society that is truly at the head of that post-imperial commonwealth ideal. 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