--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was struck during the Brexit debate by…" description: "\"I was struck during the Brexit debate by how little discussion there was about the origins of the concept of a united Europe.\" — Sheila Hancock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png" --- # I was struck during the Brexit debate by how little… ![“I was struck during the Brexit debate by how little discussion there was about the origins of the concept of a united Europe.” quote by Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png) > “I was struck during the Brexit debate by how little discussion there was about the origins of the concept of a united Europe.” [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The discussion overlooked the historical roots of European unity, focusing instead on current politics. **In simple terms:** People ignored Europe's origins. Key Takeaway Remember history when debating politics. Themes history politics Europe unity Mood reflective critical Type analytical educational When to use this quote - policy making - academic research - public education Key Concepts European integration political discourse Questions to Reflect On - How would understanding Europe's origins change current debates? - What lessons can be drawn from past integration attempts? A Different Perspective Historical context is essential for informed decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brexit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) [Brexit Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit-debate-334124/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion/) [Discussion Origins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion-origins-3976301/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Little Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-discussion-2748464/) [Struck Brexit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struck-brexit-3976300/) [United Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-europe-480758/) ## Related quotes > [For me, the most ironic aspect of the Brexit debate has been right-wing Brexiteers speaking loftily about parliamentary sovereignty, when they have never backed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/for-me-the-most-ironic-aspect-of-the-brexit-debate-has-been-right/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [For me, no one aspect of the Brexit debate displays so markedly the monomania of many Brexiteers as does the Irish question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/for-me-no-one-aspect-of-the-brexit-debate-displays-so-markedly-the/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [The Brexit debate has been difficult and divisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-brexit-debate-has-been-difficult-and-divisive/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [One of the most depressing aspects of the whole Brexit debate has been the rush to instant judgment about the motives of MPs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/one-of-the-most-depressing-aspects-of-the-whole-brexit-debate-has/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [I really love having conversations and deconstructing things. I don't mind not having a laugh every second. Sometimes things deserve a little more discussion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-really-love-having-conversations-and-deconstructing-things-i-don-t/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [You know, we live in a country where if you want to go bomb somebody, there's remarkably little discussion about how much it might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bacevich/you-know-we-live-in-a-country-where-if-you-want-to-go-bomb-somebody/) [Andrew Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bacevich/) > [Part of the Brexit debate was about control, having a say over our laws and money and letting politicians stand up for what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/part-of-the-brexit-debate-was-about-control-having-a-say-over-our/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [On 'Question Time,' I've noticed great anger from the audience. When we discuss Brexit, emotions range from white-hot fury to cold, grey apathy. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-bruce/on-question-time-i-ve-noticed-great-anger-from-the-audience-when-we/) [Fiona Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-bruce/) > [A united Europe is our Continent's only chance to avoid falling off the world's radar. The heads of government of Germany, France and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/a-united-europe-is-our-continent-s-only-chance-to-avoid-falling-off/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Let's not underestimate the European Union. You know what united Europe? Values. And that's why I am absolutely sure about the unity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petro-poroshenko/let-s-not-underestimate-the-european-union-you-know-what-united/) [Petro Poroshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petro-poroshenko/) > [I am a committed European; a united Europe is Romania's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/i-am-a-committed-european-a-united-europe-is-romania-s-future/) [Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/) > [I declare myself an Austrian and a European. A united Europe will be a peaceful Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-fischer/i-declare-myself-an-austrian-and-a-european-a-united-europe-will-be-a/) [Heinz Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-fischer/) > [Voices were heard from the United States of America which made it clear that America wanted a peaceful and united Europe as a basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-stresemann/voices-were-heard-from-the-united-states-of-america-which-made-it/) [Gustav Stresemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-stresemann/) > [Two World Wars are sufficient and we are the ones who supported this notion of a united Europe, so there would never be another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/two-world-wars-are-sufficient-and-we-are-the-ones-who-supported-this/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [I think that if a United States of Europe were to be formed, it would be in our interests to fight for it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/i-think-that-if-a-united-states-of-europe-were-to-be-formed-it-would/) [Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/) ## More by Sheila Hancock > [I was this sort of floozy in 'The Rag Trade,' and 'Mr Digby Darling,' and 'Now, Take My Wife' - the titles say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-was-this-sort-of-floozy-in-the-rag-trade-and-mr-digby-darling-and/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [You're never going to get 2,400 people a night for a play. I'm sorry, you really aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/you-re-never-going-to-get-2-400-people-a-night-for-a-play-i-m-sorry/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I can't think of anybody among the greats who isn't constantly looking at themselves and feeling dissatisfied. You're greedy in this business: always wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-can-t-think-of-anybody-among-the-greats-who-isn-t-constantly/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [On 'The X Factor,' they deliberately have people on that are awful just to laugh at them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/on-the-x-factor-they-deliberately-have-people-on-that-are-awful-just/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [My new catchphrase is: 'Pull yourself together.' I've done the inner child, I've had analysis, I've decided that unless you're mentally ill and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/my-new-catchphrase-is-pull-yourself-together-i-ve-done-the-inner/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [In the old days I'd like to have been a politician, when I think the world was more idealistic. When I was young I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/in-the-old-days-i-d-like-to-have-been-a-politician-when-i-think-the/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [There isn't a carer in the world who doesn't say, 'I hate it. My life is being ruined. I didn't see my life like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/there-isn-t-a-carer-in-the-world-who-doesn-t-say-i-hate-it-my-life-is/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I have never met anybody who can change their point of view as easily as me. It's profoundly embarrassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-have-never-met-anybody-who-can-change-their-point-of-view-as-easily/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I cannot pass by seeing a child shouted at, and people dropping litter. I'm terrible for intervening. There's nothing worse than busybodies like me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-cannot-pass-by-seeing-a-child-shouted-at-and-people-dropping-litter/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I don't want my daughters reading about the day I was furious with one of them and said something horrible, that I didn't mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-don-t-want-my-daughters-reading-about-the-day-i-was-furious-with/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I can't do solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-can-t-do-solitude/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [Mindful that it's running out, I am determined to have the time of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/mindful-that-it-s-running-out-i-am-determined-to-have-the-time-of-my/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I can't keep my trap shut in interviews - I'm not very good at dissembling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-can-t-keep-my-trap-shut-in-interviews-i-m-not-very-good-at/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [There's an incredibly grand attitude towards musicals. I don't understand why my profession is so snooty about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/there-s-an-incredibly-grand-attitude-towards-musicals-i-don-t/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I've never been one of those nanas who pretends to be young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-nanas-who-pretends-to-be-young/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) [Explore all 100 Sheila Hancock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) ## More Brexit quotes > [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [And after Brexit, we will be free to determine our economic future, with control over our money, laws and borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/and-after-brexit-we-will-be-free-to-determine-our-economic-future/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [No one voted for a Brexit that will tie us to the E.U.'s customs rules and prevent us striking meaningful trade deals of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/no-one-voted-for-a-brexit-that-will-tie-us-to-the-e-u-s-customs-rules/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [The audience for facts, evidence and research about microtargeting, Facebook and Brexit is tiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/the-audience-for-facts-evidence-and-research-about-microtargeting/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [I am a passionate, pragmatic, and positive believer in Brexit, and with my three-step plan, we can decisively leave the E.U.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/i-am-a-passionate-pragmatic-and-positive-believer-in-brexit-and-with/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [The important thing with Facebook is to remember that it played a role in facilitating Brexit because it inadvertently allowed leave-supporting groups to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/the-important-thing-with-facebook-is-to-remember-that-it-played-a/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [Brexit has always been an impossible project, except at the price of massive self-harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-has-always-been-an-impossible-project-except-at-the-price-of/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [Whatever happens with Brexit, what I am absolutely convinced will not happen is that free movement of individuals, free movement of people, will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/whatever-happens-with-brexit-what-i-am-absolutely-convinced-will-not/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [I think one of the laughable things about poor old Brexit is that they're so cross - they're furious with everyone. But this isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-soames/i-think-one-of-the-laughable-things-about-poor-old-brexit-is-that/) [Nicholas Soames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-soames/) > [Brexit has really broken a taboo. The Brits have shown us that you can leave the European Union, and you can come out better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/brexit-has-really-broken-a-taboo-the-brits-have-shown-us-that-you-can/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [People are rightly concerned about what Brexit will mean for the country, for their jobs and for their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/people-are-rightly-concerned-about-what-brexit-will-mean-for-the/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [Brexit is not, thankfully, a question of war. But, like Iraq, Brexit is an act of unprovoked self-harm and a massive strategic mistake that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-is-not-thankfully-a-question-of-war-but-like-iraq-brexit-is-an/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [I'll keep fighting for the best, most successful Brexit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/i-ll-keep-fighting-for-the-best-most-successful-brexit/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [The skills necessary to change nappies or negotiate Brexit are obviously very different, but both involve a great deal of trust in the competence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-skills-necessary-to-change-nappies-or-negotiate-brexit-are/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) [Browse all 412 Brexit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was struck during the Brexit debate by how little discussion there was about the origins of the concept of a united Europe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sheila Hancock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by-how-little-discussion-there/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brexit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by-how-little-discussion-there/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/sheila-hancock-5465_brexit_i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by_456922.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was struck during the Brexit debate by how little discussion there was about the origins of the concept of…” — Sheila Hancock", "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": "Sheila Hancock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was struck during the Brexit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by-how-little-discussion-there/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-was-struck-during-the-brexit-debate-by-how-little-discussion-there/#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 } } ] } ```