--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: David Cameron says he wants to keep…" description: "\"David Cameron says he wants to keep Britain in the EU, but his tactics are so divisive that, if he gets what he wants it will be at the price of huge i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/john-bruton-20178_britain_david-cameron-says-he-wants-to-keep-brit_1182621.png" --- # David Cameron says he wants to keep Britain in the EU, but… ![“David Cameron says he wants to keep Britain in the EU, but his tactics are so divisive that, if he gets what he wants it will be at the price of huge ill-will in Europe; or if he doesn't, it will be at the price of increased anti-EU sentiment in his own party and in British society.” quote by John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/john-bruton-20178_britain_david-cameron-says-he-wants-to-keep-brit_1182621.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/john-bruton-20178_britain_david-cameron-says-he-wants-to-keep-brit_1182621.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/john-bruton-20178_britain_david-cameron-says-he-wants-to-keep-brit_1182621.png) > “David Cameron says he wants to keep Britain in the EU, but his tactics are so divisive that, if he gets what he wants it will be at the price of huge ill-will in Europe; or if he doesn't, it will be at the price of increased anti-EU sentiment in his own party and in British society.” [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cameron’s EU stance creates a dilemma: staying risks alienating Europe, leaving risks fueling domestic anti‑EU sentiment. **In simple terms:** Cameron’s EU plan has costly trade‑offs. Key Takeaway Weigh political costs carefully. Themes politics EU strategy Mood concerned analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - Policy formulation - party leadership - public messaging Key Concepts Divisiveness public opinion Questions to Reflect On - What is the optimal balance between national and continental interests? - How can leaders mitigate internal division? A Different Perspective Compromise may be seen as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti Eu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-eu-3474922/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameron/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/david-cameron/) [Eu Sentiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eu-sentiment-3474923/) [Eu Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eu-tactics-3474924/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Ill will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill-will/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wants Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-britain-1549108/) ## Related quotes > [France wants Britain to remain in the E.U.; indeed, how can we imagine that friendly nation that is our ally and played a role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/france-wants-britain-to-remain-in-the-e-u-indeed-how-can-we-imagine/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [From Brompton bikes in Australia to Bentleys in the US - the world wants what Britain has to sell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/from-brompton-bikes-in-australia-to-bentleys-in-the-us-the-world/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [Here is a mental treatment guaranteed to cure every ill that flesh is heir to: sit for half an hour every night and mentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fillmore/here-is-a-mental-treatment-guaranteed-to-cure-every-ill-that-flesh-is/) [Charles Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fillmore/) > [For it is in our nature to endure patiently the decrees of fate, but not the ill-will of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/for-it-is-in-our-nature-to-endure-patiently-the-decrees-of-fate-but/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“If we become aware that someone is sending thoughts of ill will in our direction, we do not argue with the apparent reality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/if-we-become-aware-that-someone-is-sending-thoughts-of-ill-will-in/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Employers, have you ever stopped to reckon what the goodwill of your workers is worth? ... 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But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/man-is-perhaps-no-more-prone-to-war-than-he-used-to-be-and-no-more/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is unfortunate that in most cases when the sins of the father fall on the son it is because unlike God, people refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-unfortunate-that-in-most-cases-when-the-sins-of-the-father-fall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never allow sick attitudes to poison your thinking, nor let ill will make you ill. Avoid making your mind sore by that painful rehurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/never-allow-sick-attitudes-to-poison-your-thinking-nor-let-ill-will/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“The growth of his power and fame was matched, in my imagination, by the degree of the punishment I would have liked to inflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabokov-i-tyrants-destroyed-i/the-growth-of-his-power-and-fame-was-matched-in-my-imagination-by-the/) [Nabokov i Tyrants Destroyed i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabokov-i-tyrants-destroyed-i/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [To think profoundly, to seek and speak truth, to love justice and denounce wrong is to draw upon one's self the ill will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/to-think-profoundly-to-seek-and-speak-truth-to-love-justice-and/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) ## More by John Bruton > [Non-proliferation will only work if all states are willing to cooperate, and that will only happen if all feel they are being treated fairly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/non-proliferation-will-only-work-if-all-states-are-willing-to/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [European investment in Texas alone exceeds all U.S. investment in China and Japan put together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/european-investment-in-texas-alone-exceeds-all-u-s-investment-in/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [We in Ireland have not been immune from the bigotry and the indifference which manifested itself in Europe this century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/we-in-ireland-have-not-been-immune-from-the-bigotry-and-the/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [The European Union is the world's most successful invention for advancing peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/the-european-union-is-the-world-s-most-successful-invention-for/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [States can be deterred by the fear of retaliation; non-state organisations cannot by deterred at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/states-can-be-deterred-by-the-fear-of-retaliation-non-state/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [Since creation of the E.U. a half century ago, Europe has enjoyed the longest period of peace in its history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/since-creation-of-the-e-u-a-half-century-ago-europe-has-enjoyed-the/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [Financial service providers act as the lubricating oil in the economy. They link consumers who want to invest their savings for a good return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/financial-service-providers-act-as-the-lubricating-oil-in-the-economy/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [The EU and the U.S. often work together to develop international standards. This is the case in fighting terrorism and transnational crime, advancing trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/the-eu-and-the-u-s-often-work-together-to-develop-international/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [U.S. companies earn more from their investments in the EU than in the rest of the world combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/u-s-companies-earn-more-from-their-investments-in-the-eu-than-in-the/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [The Irish Free State was one of dozens of new European democracies to emerge from the cauldron of the 1914-1918 war. It was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/the-irish-free-state-was-one-of-dozens-of-new-european-democracies-to/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [The U.S. - E.U. economic relationship dwarfs America's economic ties with China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/the-u-s-e-u-economic-relationship-dwarfs-america-s-economic-ties-with/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [The time horizon may be too long for sole reliance on market solutions - but perhaps the inventiveness of the financial services industry will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/the-time-horizon-may-be-too-long-for-sole-reliance-on-market/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [But our system of regulation must keep up with this. If it fails to keep up, it will hold back economic expansion. We need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/but-our-system-of-regulation-must-keep-up-with-this-if-it-fails-to/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [When the E.U. and the U.S. agree, other countries follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/when-the-e-u-and-the-u-s-agree-other-countries-follow/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) > [It is not viable for one country to demand a right to increase and upgrade its nuclear weapons capabilities while asking others to eliminate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bruton/it-is-not-viable-for-one-country-to-demand-a-right-to-increase-and/) [John Bruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) [Explore all 31 John Bruton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bruton/) ## More Britain quotes > [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/) > [In Britain, the press want to kill a show by revealing what's coming up and spoiling the pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/in-britain-the-press-want-to-kill-a-show-by-revealing-what-s-coming/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) > [If we don't like modern Britain, then it is very unlikely that modern Britain will like us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-don-t-like-modern-britain-then-it-is-very-unlikely-that-modern/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/) [Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/) > [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because there is a host. The Church of England is a good host, it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/we-from-every-religion-feel-comfortable-in-britain-because-there-is-a/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I am the last of Britain's stately homos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-am-the-last-of-britain-s-stately-homos/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [ As for whether what happened in Britain improves\[Donald\] Trump's chances of winning, I don't think so. 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