--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have not successfully rolled back the…" description: "\"We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg" --- # We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the… ![“We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg) > “We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels.” [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She critiques the loss of national sovereignty to European integration, implying a shift in power. **In simple terms:** Britain gave up control to Europe. Key Takeaway Guard national autonomy. Themes politics sovereignty Europe government policy Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - parliamentary debates - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts nationalism euroscepticism political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - Is sovereignty more important than collective security? - What balance should be struck? A Different Perspective May ignore benefits of cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Britain Imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain-imposed-2016593/) [Brussels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brussels/) [Dominance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominance/) [Dominance Brussels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominance-brussels-2016594/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [European Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-level-1259071/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Frontiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frontiers/) [Imposed European](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposed-european-2016595/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [State Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-britain-2016592/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [To be fighting at European level, you need players who know how to play in the big games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xabi-alonso/to-be-fighting-at-european-level-you-need-players-who-know-how-to/) [Xabi Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xabi-alonso/) > [People feel that the EU is a one-way process, a great machine that sucks up decision-making from national parliaments to the European level until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/people-feel-that-the-eu-is-a-one-way-process-a-great-machine-that-2/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [If you understand that we need a comprehensive approach to the migration issue, and only at European level, will this comprehensive approach be valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/if-you-understand-that-we-need-a-comprehensive-approach-to-the/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [People feel that the EU is a one-way process, a great machine that sucks up decision-making from national parliaments to the European level until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/people-feel-that-the-eu-is-a-one-way-process-a-great-machine-that/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [If you don't want to call it a European army, don't call it a European army. 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I've thrown up a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-m-scared-of-audiences-one-show-in-amsterdam-i-was-so-nervous-i/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [Everybody used to say going to restaurants... is like theater, there's stage sets, there's drama, there's play acting and you watch the show. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wells/everybody-used-to-say-going-to-restaurants-is-like-theater-there-s/) [Pete Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wells/) > [Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage him in talks, ask him what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/why-don-t-you-meet-osama-bin-laden-invite-him-to-brussels-or-to-the/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [This going into Europe will not turn out to be the thrilling mutual exchange supposed. It is more like nine middle-aged couples with failing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/this-going-into-europe-will-not-turn-out-to-be-the-thrilling-mutual/) [E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/) > [As a wheelchair user, you cant move about freely. Thats the only thing that bothers me a little. When Im in the Euro Group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/as-a-wheelchair-user-you-cant-move-about-freely-thats-the-only-thing/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) > [For many people, politics in Brussels and Strasbourg might as well be happening on another planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/for-many-people-politics-in-brussels-and-strasbourg-might-as-well-be/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) ## More by Margaret Thatcher > [When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-you-stop-a-dictator-there-are-always-risks-but-there-are-greater/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians do, to take counsel together, their purpose is not ( or should not be) to ascertain what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/ideally-when-christians-meet-as-christians-do-to-take-counsel/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/if-it-s-me-against-48-i-feel-sorry-for-the-48/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [ \[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:\] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-prime-minister-i-don-t-know-i/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [It is sometimes said that because of our past we, as a people, expect too much and set our sights too high. 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I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/what-is-success-i-think-it-is-a-mixture-of-having-a-flair-for-the/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Personal virtue is no substitute for political hard-headedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/personal-virtue-is-no-substitute-for-political-hard-headedness/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The Government wants a peaceful settlement. But we totally reject a peaceful sell-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/the-government-wants-a-peaceful-settlement-but-we-totally-reject-a/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [We have made too much of one or two people, and we think that they can win or lose elections for us. Don't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-made-too-much-of-one-or-two-people-and-we-think-that-they-can/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Explore all 539 Margaret Thatcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) ## 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": "We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Thatcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the-frontiers-of-the-state-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Britain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the-frontiers-of-the-state-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the_1799273.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a…” — Margaret Thatcher", "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": "Margaret Thatcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have not successfully rolled back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the-frontiers-of-the-state-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-not-successfully-rolled-back-the-frontiers-of-the-state-in/#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 } } ] } ```