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British Quotes

Most Famous British Quotes of All Time!

Genuine affection for London and its people comes through in some reflections, alongside sharper critiques of how colonial trade shaped entire regions abroad. The pursuit of ivory once drove major decisions that permanently altered ecosystems overseas, a history explored in our Britain quotes.

I'm wary of the word 'inventing,' because in the British psyche the word 'inventor' is immediately linked with 'mad'. For me, inventing is problem-solving.

Quotes by Thomas Heatherwick

I wil not compare the education of an ancient Spartan with that of a British nobleman.

Quotes by Thomas Day

It has, therefore, been a favorite boast of the people of Wales and Cornwall, that the original British stock flourishes in its unmixed purity only among them.

Quotes by Thomas Bulfinch

We know no spectacle so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodical fits of morality.

Quotes by Thomas Babington Macaulay

The British are supposed to be particularly averse to intellectuals, a prejudice closely bound up with their dislike of foreigners. Indeed, one important source of this Anglo-Saxon distaste for highbrows and eggheads was the French revolution, which was seen as...

Quotes by Terry Eagleton

Among the fables that inspired the British Admiralty's cartographic assignments to Captain James Cook in the 1770s and Captain George Vancouver in the 1790s was a 1640 account under the name of Bartholomew de Fonte that appeared in a journal...

Quotes by Terry Glavin

We're obviously a London band, and British at heart.

Quotes by Ted Dwane

Anthony Powell was the most European of 20th-century British novelists.

Quotes by Tariq Ali

I get very emotional when British players are playing.

Quotes by Sue Barker

Canada evolved within the British Empire: it inherited the Parliamentary system, the Cabinet system and all the other features of the British constitutional system which had been in place, for the most part, for several centuries before Canada was even...

Quotes by Stockwell Day

That is the nature of the British psyche. It's very blunt, plain, very linear. It's pragmatic: it records life as it is.

Quotes by Steven Berkoff

As a kid in British Columbia, going back a long way, I learned to skate.

Quotes by Steve Yzerman

Each section of the British Isles has its own way of laughing, except Wales, which doesn't.

Quotes by Stephen Leacock

In 1860 a total eclipse of the sun was visible in British America.

Quotes by Simon Newcomb

American audiences tend to be more expressive than British ones.

Quotes by Simon Pegg

The British who arrived in the United States in the eighteen-thirties and forties had imagined the young republic as a wide-eyed adolescent, socially ungainly and politically gauche, but with some hint of promise.

Quotes by Simon Schama

Yes, I have an Australian wife; she is half Bengali, half British.

Quotes by Shikhar Dhawan

India was formed on the idea 'Let's get the British out.'

Quotes by Shekhar Kapur

My story is the story of many postwar British families. Upward mobility. A council house and then new affluence.

Quotes by Sarah Waters

I'm the British home secretary. My job is to protect the British public.

Quotes by Sajid Javid

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this British quotes collection about?
It brings together quotes reflecting on Britain from different angles - affection for its people and cities, criticism of historical and modern institutions, and hopes for its role in Europe. The range gives a fuller picture than a single point of view.
Why do people search for British quotes?
People search for these quotes for everything from travel captions about London to sharper political commentary about Britain's history and current role in the world. It's a topic that spans both affection and critique.
Does the collection include criticism of British institutions?
Yes, one quote points to the British press as sometimes carrying a racist undertone, and another reflects critically on colonial-era trade practices connected to the British Empire. These add a more critical dimension to the collection.
Is there a quote expressing affection for Britain?
Yes, one simple, warm line expresses love for both London and the British people, offering a personal counterpoint to the more critical entries. It shows the collection isn't one-sided.
How can these British quotes be used?
They suit travel captions about London, commentary on British Government policy, or broader reflections on Britons and their place in Europe.

Media coverage doesn't always escape criticism, with some describing certain press coverage as carrying an uncomfortable edge. Others express a clear wish for deeper regional involvement in Europe rather than stepping back. Read more in our British Empire, British Government, and Britons quotes.