---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Britain will be honoured by historians…"
description: "\"Britain will be honoured by historians more for the way she disposed of an empire than for the way in which she acquired it.\" — Lord Harlech"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg"
---

#  Britain will be honoured by historians more for the way…

![“Britain will be honoured by historians more for the way she disposed of an empire than for the way in which she acquired it.” quote by Lord Harlech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg)

> “Britain will be honoured by historians more for the way she disposed of an empire than for the way in which she acquired it.”

Lord Harlech

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Historians will likely judge Britain more for how it dismantled its empire than for how it built it.

**In simple terms:** Britain's legacy is defined by its empire's end, not its acquisition.

Key Takeaway

Consider the impact of empire dissolution.

Themes

History Imperialism Legacy Historical judgment

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

Political historical

When to use this quote

- academic seminars
- policy debates
- public history projects

Key Concepts

Colonial policy Decolonization Moral assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- How should we evaluate imperial legacies?
- What lessons apply today?

A Different Perspective

Complexities of empire may be oversimplified.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/)

## Related quotes

> [In the end it may well be that Britain will be honored by the historians more for the way she disposed of an empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ormsby-gore-5th-baron-harlech/in-the-end-it-may-well-be-that-britain-will-be-honored-by-the/)

David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech

> [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/)

> [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 was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/)

[Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/)

> [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/)

> [Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/britain-like-other-european-states-is-not-and-never-will-again-be-in/)

[Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/)

> [ As for whether what happened in Britain improves\[Donald\] Trump's chances of winning, I don't think so. He has the same chances; we may just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/as-for-whether-what-happened-in-britain-improves-donald-trump-s/)

[Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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 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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## 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. He has the same chances; we may just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/as-for-whether-what-happened-in-britain-improves-donald-trump-s/)

[Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/)

> [Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/britain-like-other-european-states-is-not-and-never-will-again-be-in/)

[Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/)

> [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/)

> [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/)

[Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/)

> [Germany has always stood for an E.U. of the 27 countries. But in light of Britain's continued resistance to further integration steps, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/germany-has-always-stood-for-an-e-u-of-the-27-countries-but-in-light/)

[Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/)

[Browse all 1,648 Britain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Britain will be honoured by historians more for the way she disposed of an empire than for the way in which she acquired it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lord Harlech"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-harlech/britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-more-for-the-way-she-disposed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Britain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-harlech/britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-more-for-the-way-she-disposed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/lord-harlech-257523_britain_britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-m_2977231.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Britain will be honoured by historians more for the way she disposed of an empire than for the way in which…” — Lord Harlech",
                "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": "Lord Harlech",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-harlech/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Britain will be honoured by historians...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-harlech/britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-more-for-the-way-she-disposed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-harlech/britain-will-be-honoured-by-historians-more-for-the-way-she-disposed/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```