--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like the British public. There is…" description: "\"I like the British public. There is something in this country called tall poppy syndrome. You're good but you're not that good, pal, OK? The natural st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/steve-coogan-2910_america_i-like-the-british-public-there-is-somet_1933431.jpg" --- # I like the British public. There is something in this… ![“I like the British public. There is something in this country called tall poppy syndrome. You're good but you're not that good, pal, OK? The natural state of our nation is slightly miserable, and probably the healthier for it. In America you don't get a key down the side of your Bentley.” quote by Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/steve-coogan-2910_america_i-like-the-british-public-there-is-somet_1933431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/steve-coogan-2910_america_i-like-the-british-public-there-is-somet_1933431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/steve-coogan-2910_america_i-like-the-british-public-there-is-somet_1933431.jpg) > “I like the British public. There is something in this country called tall poppy syndrome. You're good but you're not that good, pal, OK? The natural state of our nation is slightly miserable, and probably the healthier for it. In America you don't get a key down the side of your Bentley.” [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. British culture often discourages overt success, promoting modesty and shared misery as a social norm. **In simple terms:** Britain values modesty over bragging. Key Takeaway Accept modesty, avoid flaunting success. Themes modesty social norms national identity Mood wry critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - workplace - social gatherings - media commentary - personal relationships Key Concepts tall poppy syndrome cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - Is modesty always beneficial? - How does this affect personal growth? A Different Perspective Such attitudes can suppress ambition and innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bentley/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-public/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Like British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-british-362041/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Pals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pals/) [Poppies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poppies/) [Poppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poppy/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Syndromes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syndromes/) [Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall/) [Tall Poppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall-poppy-1304997/) [Tall poppy syndrome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall-poppy-syndrome/) ## Related quotes > [In Europe and Australia, there is something called the Tall Poppy Syndrome: People like to cut the tall poppies. 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That's why I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hawkins/i-hate-the-whole-tall-poppy-syndrome-i-don-t-want-people-to-think-it/) [Jennifer Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hawkins/) > [Crab mentality and the public cyberbullying of students, teachers and others are such established cultural norms in New Zealand that some educational institutions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/crab-mentality-and-the-public-cyberbullying-of-students-teachers-and/) [Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/) > [Like the assassinations of king Tarquins time, the harm caused by cyberbullying can include the death of young and old alike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/like-the-assassinations-of-king-tarquins-time-the-harm-caused-by/) [Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/) > [I've talked about tall poppy syndrome when I see people. I used to be like, 'Why am I feeling this way? What is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-adesanya/i-ve-talked-about-tall-poppy-syndrome-when-i-see-people-i-used-to-be/) [Israel Adesanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-adesanya/) > [Crabs are well represented in New Zealand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/te-ara-new-zealand-government-tearagovnz/crabs-are-well-represented-in-new-zealand/) [Te Ara (New Zealand Government Tearagovnz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/te-ara-new-zealand-government-tearagovnz/) > [Standing out through your achievements can cause you to be attacked in some countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/standing-out-through-your-achievements-can-cause-you-to-be-attacked/) [Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/) > [In a country like New Zealand where crab mentality is an accepted norm and even celebrated as a cultural achievement by some, the addition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/in-a-country-like-new-zealand-where-crab-mentality-is-an-accepted/) [Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/) > [In modern day academia, secretly assassinating your peers is not necessarily performed the same way it was in king Tarquins day. The growth in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/in-modern-day-academia-secretly-assassinating-your-peers-is-not/) [Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/) > [I don't really like British comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-reeves/i-don-t-really-like-british-comedy/) [Vic Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-reeves/) > [I don't like to have these words banded about, like "British sense of humor," "American sense of humor," though I'll be damned if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-oz/i-don-t-like-to-have-these-words-banded-about-like-british-sense-of/) [Frank Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-oz/) > [If I go anywhere where there are people who vaguely look like me, there is always that feeling of, 'Actually I do look quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeev-bhaskar/if-i-go-anywhere-where-there-are-people-who-vaguely-look-like-me/) [Sanjeev Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeev-bhaskar/) > [The Spanish never appreciated me like the British.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/the-spanish-never-appreciated-me-like-the-british/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) ## More by Steve Coogan > [As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/as-soon-as-i-see-period-costume-i-turn-off-it-s-like-hearing-drama-on/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [A woman wearing a revealing dress will always be sexier than a naked woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/a-woman-wearing-a-revealing-dress-will-always-be-sexier-than-a-naked/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I like to do movies that provoke rather than reinforce conservative values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-like-to-do-movies-that-provoke-rather-than-reinforce-conservative/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I'm gonna hump ya. Like Deputy Dog... Would hump ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-m-gonna-hump-ya-like-deputy-dog-would-hump-ya/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [What terrifies me is that I might somehow endorse that view so people think they don't have to read books anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/what-terrifies-me-is-that-i-might-somehow-endorse-that-view-so-people/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I am lucky to be in a profession that is not age dependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-am-lucky-to-be-in-a-profession-that-is-not-age-dependent/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I think there's as much profundity and wisdom in Shakespeare, more so in fact, than those in the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-think-there-s-as-much-profundity-and-wisdom-in-shakespeare-more-so/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I don't apologize for my behavior anymore. Whatever I do or don't do shouldn't matter. Moral certainty is dangerous. Moral certainty is what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-don-t-apologize-for-my-behavior-anymore-whatever-i-do-or-don-t-do/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [A womb with a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/a-womb-with-a-view/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I'm really encouraged by Pope Francis, because I think his attitude is totally laudable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-m-really-encouraged-by-pope-francis-because-i-think-his-attitude-is/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [Knowing about comedy has helped me with the drama. To see people laugh, it's like there are moments of catharsis in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/knowing-about-comedy-has-helped-me-with-the-drama-to-see-people-laugh/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I happen to have a public profile. Ditto newspaper editors. It's a result of what I do, not an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-happen-to-have-a-public-profile-ditto-newspaper-editors-it-s-a/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [The fundamentalists are insistent that they know best. It's a dictatorial attitude towards personal morality, which is a modern creation that came about in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/the-fundamentalists-are-insistent-that-they-know-best-it-s-a/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I use improvisation as a writing tool to help produce material that goes into a script, but a well-crafted script shouldn't sound scripted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-use-improvisation-as-a-writing-tool-to-help-produce-material-that/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [If the person who can effectively sanction ill-conceived wars can play the electric guitar, which is a symbol of rebellion, then that whole worldview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/if-the-person-who-can-effectively-sanction-ill-conceived-wars-can/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) [Explore all 145 Steve Coogan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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