--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberalism is a really old British…" description: "\"Liberalism is a really old British tradition and it has a completely different attitude towards the individual and the relationship between the individ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg" --- # Liberalism is a really old British tradition and it has a… ![“Liberalism is a really old British tradition and it has a completely different attitude towards the individual and the relationship between the individual and the state than the collectivist response of Labour, and particularly Old Labour, does.” quote by Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg) > “Liberalism is a really old British tradition and it has a completely different attitude towards the individual and the relationship between the individual and the state than the collectivist response of Labour, and particularly Old Labour, does.” [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement contrasts British liberalism’s individual‑focused philosophy with Labour’s collectivist tradition. **In simple terms:** Liberalism emphasizes individual rights; Labour emphasizes collective welfare. Key Takeaway Understand differing political philosophies. Themes politics philosophy history Mood analytical neutral inquisitive Type comparative educational When to use this quote - policy analysis - academic debate - public discourse - voting decisions Key Concepts individualism collectivism state‑society relations Questions to Reflect On - Which approach better serves modern societies? - How can policies blend both perspectives? A Different Perspective Balancing individual and collective needs is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Collectivist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivist-690948/) [Collectivist Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivist-response-1187767/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-attitude/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Liberalism Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism-really-1187766/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [State Collectivist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-collectivist-1187768/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [People profess to have certain political positions, but their conservatism or liberalism is really the least interesting thing about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/people-profess-to-have-certain-political-positions-but-their/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [At the heart of liberalism really is a hatred for God and a belief that government should replace God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/at-the-heart-of-liberalism-really-is-a-hatred-for-god-and-a-belief/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) > [Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of "emergency". 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [If anarcho-communism served to regiment the population in the name of libertarian unity, if it served in any way through collectivist measures to deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/if-anarcho-communism-served-to-regiment-the-population-in-the-name-of/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Every collectivist assumes a different source for the collective will, according to his own political, religious and national convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-collectivist-assumes-a-different-source-for-the-collective-will/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Even when men approve of the same arrangements, it must be asked whether they approve of them because they exist or because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/even-when-men-approve-of-the-same-arrangements-it-must-be-asked/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) ## More by Nick Clegg > [I've just been away for a week, and I dropped my BlackBerry in the sea while I was messing around with the kids, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-ve-just-been-away-for-a-week-and-i-dropped-my-blackberry-in-the-sea/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [ \[All governments\] get into a rut where every potentially good story turns into a bad one. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/all-governments-get-into-a-rut-where-every-potentially-good-story/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [I say this as a young dad seeing children going into primary school: I don't think we should underestimate the formative effect on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-say-this-as-a-young-dad-seeing-children-going-into-primary-school-i/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [I am a passionate believer in freedom of speech. 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It's not for us to write the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-are-keen-to-stress-that-a-strong-euro-zone-is-good-for-a-strong/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [I will not accept a new wave of fiscal retrenchment, of belt-tightening, without asking people at the top to make their contribution, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-will-not-accept-a-new-wave-of-fiscal-retrenchment-of-belt/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [I am quite strict as a dad but I don't want to be censorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-am-quite-strict-as-a-dad-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-censorious/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [We have got to make sure there is proper independent scrutiny and accountability for people in the press, just as there should be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-have-got-to-make-sure-there-is-proper-independent-scrutiny-and/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [I totally accept that it's a legitimate criticism that when you are involved in the day-to-day scrum of government... that what can get lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-totally-accept-that-it-s-a-legitimate-criticism-that-when-you-are/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [We need to teach our kids, because there is such a celebrity culture at the moment, that however rich you are, however famous you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-need-to-teach-our-kids-because-there-is-such-a-celebrity-culture/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [“There is a future for us in that reformed Union, if we are prepared to grasp it. 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ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Liberalism is a really old British tradition and it has a completely different attitude towards the individual and the relationship between the individual and the state than the collectivist response of Labour, and particularly Old Labour, does.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nick Clegg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradition-and-it-has-a-completely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradition-and-it-has-a-completely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/nick-clegg-8434_attitude_liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradi_2514284.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Liberalism is a really old British tradition and it has a completely different attitude towards the…” — Nick Clegg", "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": "Nick Clegg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Liberalism is a really old British...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradition-and-it-has-a-completely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/liberalism-is-a-really-old-british-tradition-and-it-has-a-completely/#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 } } ] } ```