--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always held the view that great…" description: "\"I've always held the view that great states need strategic space. I mean, George Washington took his space from George III. Britain took it from just a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/paul-keating-8731_britain_i-ve-always-held-the-view-that-great-sta_1280108.png" --- # I've always held the view that great states need strategic… ![“I've always held the view that great states need strategic space. I mean, George Washington took his space from George III. Britain took it from just about everybody. Russia took all of Eastern Europe. Germany's taken it from everywhere they can, and China will want its space too.” quote by Paul Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/paul-keating-8731_britain_i-ve-always-held-the-view-that-great-sta_1280108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/paul-keating-8731_britain_i-ve-always-held-the-view-that-great-sta_1280108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/paul-keating-8731_britain_i-ve-always-held-the-view-that-great-sta_1280108.png) > “I've always held the view that great states need strategic space. I mean, George Washington took his space from George III. Britain took it from just about everybody. Russia took all of Eastern Europe. Germany's taken it from everywhere they can, and China will want its space too.” [Paul Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-keating/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nations require strategic space to thrive; historically powers have seized territory to secure influence, and modern states will continue this pursuit. **In simple terms:** Countries need room to grow, often taken from others. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect strategic space in international relations. Themes geopolitics power territory history Mood analytical critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - foreign policy planning - defense strategy - economic expansion - diplomatic negotiations Key Concepts realism national interest balance of power Questions to Reflect On - Is expansion always necessary for security? - How can nations share space without conflict? A Different Perspective Assuming space must be taken can justify aggression and ignore cooperative alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Britain Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain-took-3764228/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Eastern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern/) [Eastern europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern-europe/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-took-2059299/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-need-288839/) [Strategic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic/) [Strategic Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic-space-4133057/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [View](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-space-371500/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [The fieriness that the Maroons had, first with their fight with the Spanish and then the English, I think I've got that in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/the-fieriness-that-the-maroons-had-first-with-their-fight-with-the/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [Much of the aid we first gave to Russia we took away from what we promised Britain. 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