--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is a Greek exit from the…" description: "\"If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the German elite will be quite pleased that they can then use that to restructure the Eurozone and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png" --- # If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the… ![“If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the German elite will be quite pleased that they can then use that to restructure the Eurozone and make it a zone where only strong countries are allowed in. There would then be two tiers within the European Union, which is in fact already…” quote by Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png) > “If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the German elite will be quite pleased that they can then use that to restructure the Eurozone and make it a zone where only strong countries are allowed in. There would then be two tiers within the European Union, which is in fact already happening. But you cannot simply get rid of German control by raising the specter of the Third Reich. That's ahistorical.” [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that German elites might welcome Greece leaving the Eurozone to reshape it into a stronger, two‑tier union, but warns against using extremist rhetoric. **In simple terms:** German elites may favor a stronger Eurozone but fear extremist narratives. Key Takeaway Consider the political motives behind economic restructuring. Themes politics economics EU integration nationalism historical memory Mood critical analytical Type analytical political commentary When to use this quote - policy debates - media analysis - academic research Key Concepts power dynamics regional stability identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How do economic interests shape political narratives? - What are the risks of a two‑tier EU? A Different Perspective The argument may oversimplify complex economic interdependencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [European union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-union/) [Eurozone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eurozone/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [ We believe that what they call "Grexit" \[a Greek exit from the eurozone\] is not an option for us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonis-samaras/we-believe-that-what-they-call-grexit-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozone/) [Antonis Samaras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonis-samaras/) > [The current Eurozone is obviously dysfunctional. And serious people within Germany and elsewhere know this to be the case and know things cannot function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-current-eurozone-is-obviously-dysfunctional-and-serious-people/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Strong countries and strong presidents talk to their adversaries. That's what Kennedy did with Khrushchev. That's what Reagan did with Gorbachev. That's what Nixon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/strong-countries-and-strong-presidents-talk-to-their-adversaries-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think strong countries and strong nationalist movements in countries make strong neighbors. And that is really the building blocks that built Western Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/i-think-strong-countries-and-strong-nationalist-movements-in/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [Here's the truth: the Soviet Union had thousands of nuclear weapons, and Iran doesn't have a single one. But when the world was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/here-s-the-truth-the-soviet-union-had-thousands-of-nuclear-weapons/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We're an elective democracy where science and technology will define where the economically strong countries in the world will be. And science and technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-re-an-elective-democracy-where-science-and-technology-will-define/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Both the Eurozone and European Union is like the end of the Roman Empire. It's already started. In a few years' time it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/both-the-eurozone-and-european-union-is-like-the-end-of-the-roman/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [You have to abolish pension plans. You have to abolish social spending. You have to raise taxes. You have to have at least fifty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/you-have-to-abolish-pension-plans-you-have-to-abolish-social-spending/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [Whatever new arrangements are enacted for the Eurozone, they must work fairly for those inside it and out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/whatever-new-arrangements-are-enacted-for-the-eurozone-they-must-work/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The politics of banking is bad everywhere, including UK. Eurozone has more problems, unhealthy symbiosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anat-r-admati/the-politics-of-banking-is-bad-everywhere-including-uk-eurozone-has/) [Anat R. Admati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anat-r-admati/) > [The interesting thing is that the 82% of the Greeks do not want to abandon the Euro. They really believe that there might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-bakoyannis/the-interesting-thing-is-that-the-82-of-the-greeks-do-not-want-to/) [Dora Bakoyannis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-bakoyannis/) > [If I had political responsibility, I would want to prepare for a plan B that would foresee that the European currency union, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peer-steinbruck/if-i-had-political-responsibility-i-would-want-to-prepare-for-a-plan/) [Peer Steinbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peer-steinbruck/) > [I work in lockstep, hand in glove, with the prime minister on these issues, and as we are supportive to the Eurozone so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-work-in-lockstep-hand-in-glove-with-the-prime-minister-on-these/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [While holding the eurozone together will be costly and difficult and painful for the politicians, breaking it up will be even more costly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eichengreen/while-holding-the-eurozone-together-will-be-costly-and-difficult-and/) [Barry Eichengreen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eichengreen/) > [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) ## More by Tariq Ali > [American imperialism has always been the imperialism that has been frightened of speaking its name. Now it's beginning to do so. In a way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/american-imperialism-has-always-been-the-imperialism-that-has-been/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Scotland's political identity was destroyed, and a huge Scottish emigration to North America followed the brutal Highland clearances. These included every layer of Scottish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/scotland-s-political-identity-was-destroyed-and-a-huge-scottish/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [When a country is invaded and attacked and people resist it's important to speak up and to say they have the right to resist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/when-a-country-is-invaded-and-attacked-and-people-resist-it-s/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I think another crisis, which is being predicted now and which will be worse than what we saw in 2008, could bring the European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-think-another-crisis-which-is-being-predicted-now-and-which-will-be/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [The European Union is effectively a union dominated by the German political and economic elite. Its main function is to serve as a nucleus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-european-union-is-effectively-a-union-dominated-by-the-german/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Anthony Powell was the most European of 20th-century British novelists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/anthony-powell-was-the-most-european-of-20th-century-british-novelists/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I think democracy is on the decline in the West. Ruling parties are the same: neo-liberalism at home and wars abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-think-democracy-is-on-the-decline-in-the-west-ruling-parties-are/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [One cannot discuss Europe without understanding US imperial hegemony, both globally and certainly in Europe as it stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/one-cannot-discuss-europe-without-understanding-us-imperial-hegemony/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [The Enlightenment attacked religion - Christianity, mainly - for two reasons: that it was a set of ideological delusions, and that it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-enlightenment-attacked-religion-christianity-mainly-for-two/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I think the Americans fished out the same condom but found it had too many holes in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-think-the-americans-fished-out-the-same-condom-but-found-it-had-too/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Basically, we are witnessing the twilight of democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/basically-we-are-witnessing-the-twilight-of-democracy/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [One could think of ways to defeat the censor. I could put up the answers on my Facebook page or website or Counterpunch. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/one-could-think-of-ways-to-defeat-the-censor-i-could-put-up-the/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [In January 1961, the United States severed diplomatic relations in response to Cuban nationalisation of U.S.-owned sugar plantations, banks and businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/in-january-1961-the-united-states-severed-diplomatic-relations-in/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [“Monotonous talk of the end of American hegemony, the universal cliché of the period, is mostly a way of avoiding mounting a serious opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/monotonous-talk-of-the-end-of-american-hegemony-the-universal-clich/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I was never totally what we would now call 'politically correct,' even in my most militant phase. I always liked good food, good wines.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-was-never-totally-what-we-would-now-call-politically-correct-even/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) [Explore all 144 Tariq Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [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/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the German elite will be quite pleased that they can then use that to restructure the Eurozone and make it a zone where only strong countries are allowed in. There would then be two tiers within the European Union, which is in fact already happening. But you cannot simply get rid of German control by raising the specter of the Third Reich. That's ahistorical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tariq Ali" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozone-i-think-the-german-elite/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozone-i-think-the-german-elite/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tariq-ali-2958_country_if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozo_2702233.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is a Greek exit from the Eurozone, I think the German elite will be quite pleased that they can…” — Tariq Ali", "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": "Tariq Ali", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is a Greek exit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozone-i-think-the-german-elite/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/if-there-is-a-greek-exit-from-the-eurozone-i-think-the-german-elite/#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 } } ] } ```