--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: England has gone soft,” Colville said…" description: "\"“England has gone soft,” Colville said, gazing out through the darkness toward the few, flickering lights of North Rigton. The last faint rays of the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/stephen-england-10225_patriotism_england-has-gone-soft-colville-said-gazi_686293.jpg" --- # England has gone soft,” Colville said, gazing out through… ![“England has gone soft,” Colville said, gazing out through the darkness toward the few, flickering lights of North Rigton. The last faint rays of the sun were slipping beyond the horizon—the stars emerging in the sky above them. “We were a proud people once. The sun never set on the Union Jack and…” quote by Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/stephen-england-10225_patriotism_england-has-gone-soft-colville-said-gazi_686293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/stephen-england-10225_patriotism_england-has-gone-soft-colville-said-gazi_686293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/stephen-england-10225_patriotism_england-has-gone-soft-colville-said-gazi_686293.jpg) > ““England has gone soft,” Colville said, gazing out through the darkness toward the few, flickering lights of North Rigton. The last faint rays of the sun were slipping beyond the horizon—the stars emerging in the sky above them. “We were a proud people once. The sun never set on the Union Jack and an Englishman bowed his knee only to his Queen and his God. Now?” He shook his head. “The leaders of this country take their marching orders from Brussels, bow down before every sodding immigrant that washes ashore. Grovel in the dirt for fear of offending them or their precious beliefs, styling themselves ‘multiculturalist’ in so doing. They need to be shocked from their comforts—awakened to the danger of what they have embraced”” [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments perceived loss of national pride and sovereignty, blaming multiculturalism and EU influence for weakening traditional values. **In simple terms:** England feels lost, fearing cultural decline and external control. Key Takeaway Reclaim national identity and question current policies. Themes nationalism identity culture politics immigration Mood defensive reflective Type political social commentary When to use this quote - public debate - policy making - community discussions - media analysis Key Concepts sovereignty multiculturalism nostalgia political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - What defines true national pride? - How can societies balance tradition with inclusion? A Different Perspective Critics argue this view oversimplifies complex social dynamics and ignores benefits of diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) ## Related quotes > [England has gone off the rails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-turner-smith/england-has-gone-off-the-rails/) [Jodie Turner-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-turner-smith/) > [“Oh, to be in England, now that England’s gone. 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Proud people always feel that they can live independently from God and from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosaria-butterfield/pride-puffs-one-up-with-a-false-sense-of-independence-proud-people/) Rosaria Butterfield > [Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/proud-people-breed-sad-sorrows-for-themselves/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I am immensely proud of our people. The way we have been persecuted, and our drive and our survival, is mind-boggling. I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kapler/i-am-immensely-proud-of-our-people-the-way-we-have-been-persecuted/) [Gabe Kapler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kapler/) > [I feel very, very proud that so many people have copied me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-issigonis/i-feel-very-very-proud-that-so-many-people-have-copied-me/) [Alec Issigonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-issigonis/) > [I am proud people still like me. That is what is most important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-proud-people-still-like-me-that-is-what-is-most-important-in-life/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [“Be proud of your people when you don't have to be ashamed of any of its social classes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/be-proud-of-your-people-when-you-don-t-have-to-be-ashamed-of-any-of/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/there-are-two-things-that-men-should-never-weary-of-goodness-and/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [I'm proud of people who have the determination and the fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/i-m-proud-of-people-who-have-the-determination-and-the-fearlessness/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [My first wedding makes me proud in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/my-first-wedding-makes-me-proud-in-front-of-people/) Greek Proverb > [You're always proud that people still want to hear what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/you-re-always-proud-that-people-still-want-to-hear-what-you-re-doing/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [I think from what I personally know, I am really quite proud of most of the people I know who have 'made it,' who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/i-think-from-what-i-personally-know-i-am-really-quite-proud-of-most/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) ## More by Stephen England > [“Korsakov turned away, sighing heavily as he made his way toward his SUV. It had been the early winter of 1997, a dark night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/korsakov-turned-away-sighing-heavily-as-he-made-his-way-toward-his/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Three months in Somalia, Darren Roth thought, glancing impatiently at the crosswalk sign, waiting for the symbol to flash. If he closed his eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/three-months-in-somalia-darren-roth-thought-glancing-impatiently-at/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“It would be so simple, Harry thought, his mind flickering back across the years to another op. In Europe. A train station just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/it-would-be-so-simple-harry-thought-his-mind-flickering-back-across/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Omar’s choice of the .357 Magnum was more prosaic, based on a simple bit of advice from a fellow inmate. The man had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/omar-s-choice-of-the-357-magnum-was-more-prosaic-based-on-a-simple/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Oh, well that can’t have been me,” Harry smiled grimly, clapping a hand on Malone’s shoulder as he moved past the big man. “You’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/oh-well-that-can-t-have-been-me-harry-smiled-grimly-clapping-a-hand/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Hamid checked the silenced Heckler & Koch MP-5SD submachine gun for a third and final time before slapping a thirty-round magazine of 9mm hollowpoints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/hamid-checked-the-silenced-heckler-koch-mp-5sd-submachine-gun-for-a/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“War teaches a man that he has only his brothers.” And sometimes not even them, Harry thought—feeling anger swell within him at the memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/war-teaches-a-man-that-he-has-only-his-brothers-and-sometimes-not/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Thomas Parker glanced at his watch. Five hours. He laid down his cleaning brush and picked up the scattered parts of his 7.62mm SV-98…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/thomas-parker-glanced-at-his-watch-five-hours-he-laid-down-his/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the ballistic vest underneath. The Brits were dead set against them carrying weapons, but body armor they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/he-unbuttoned-his-shirt-to-reveal-the-ballistic-vest-underneath-the/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Twenty-seven years, Colin Hilliard thought, buttoning his suit as he strode out from under the cover of Balmoral’s carriage porch—the early afternoon sun shining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/twenty-seven-years-colin-hilliard-thought-buttoning-his-suit-as-he/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“Be prepared, indeed. The polymer case housed a Sig-Sauer P229 semiautomatic pistol chambered in 9mm Luger, along with a pair of thirteen-round magazines. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/be-prepared-indeed-the-polymer-case-housed-a-sig-sauer-p229/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“The meeting was as off-the-books as it got. Equal parts indignant denial and veiled threat. Accidents happen. Don’t want to lose your people? Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/the-meeting-was-as-off-the-books-as-it-got-equal-parts-indignant/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“There was no one waiting for him back in the States, no one to inquire into the circumstances of his death. He had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/there-was-no-one-waiting-for-him-back-in-the-states-no-one-to-inquire/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“LONGBOW to EAGLE SIX, the target is sweating profusely,” Thomas announced. Harry couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “You can see that?” “Listen, a 14x Leupold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/longbow-to-eagle-six-the-target-is-sweating-profusely-thomas/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [“he only Protestant church in the Old City, it was still in use as both a tourist destination and a functioning house of worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/he-only-protestant-church-in-the-old-city-it-was-still-in-use-as-both/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) [Explore all 67 Stephen England quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) ## More England quotes > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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Leisurewear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/these-fledgling-democracies-in-the-middle-east-they-re-actually/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [“Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing. That they lost France and made his England bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-france-and-england-did-this-king-succeed-whose-state-so-many-had/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In my view, fitness training isn't that important in England, as they all train with such intensity anyway and have a competitive edge when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/in-my-view-fitness-training-isn-t-that-important-in-england-as-they/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) [Browse all 4,190 England quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“England has gone soft,” Colville said, gazing out through the darkness toward the few, flickering lights of North Rigton. The last faint rays of the sun were slipping beyond the horizon—the stars emerging in the sky above them. “We were a proud people once. The sun never set on the Union Jack and an Englishman bowed his knee only to his Queen and his God. Now?” He shook his head. “The leaders of this country take their marching orders from Brussels, bow down before every sodding immigrant that washes ashore. Grovel in the dirt for fear of offending them or their precious beliefs, styling themselves ‘multiculturalist’ in so doing. 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