Lady’s 11 Famous British Quotes You’ll Love

Today I want to bring you A Lady in London’s favorite British quotes. They range from inspirational to funny, irreverent, patriotic, witty, and everything in between. Many people have waxed lyrical about Great Britain over the years, and there’s no shortage of famous British sayings in the UK. Read on for my top picks.

British Quotes

Famous British quotes span eras and genres. Some are from books about England, others from Scottish fiction, and still more from movies set in the UK. There are well-known quotes by famous people, everyday humans, and anonymous figures alike.

From time-worn sayings to contemporary British expressions, they feature a range of views on this part of the United Kingdom and why people across the world love Britain.

The British quotes on my list are ideal for everything from inspiration to good laughs and everyday use. If you’re looking for quotes for your Instagram captions, they’re just the things.

Whatever way you choose to enjoy or employ them, I hope they make you fall in love with Britain as much as the people who coined them.

And if you’re looking for quotes about other parts of the UK, my blog posts about London quotes and England quotes are good places to start.

Famous British Quotes

1. “Modest about our national pride – and inordinately proud of our national modesty.”

– Ian Hislop, British journalist, satirist, writer, broadcaster, and editor. This British quote is from Stiff Upper Lip – an Emotional History of Britain.

2. “Britain: the land of embarrassment and breakfast.”

– Julian Barnes, contemporary English writer

3. “The British do not expect happiness. I had the impression, all the time that I lived there, that they do not want to be happy; they want to be right.”

– Quentin Crisp, English writer, raconteur, and actor

4. “British humor is very cruel. I love it. It’s my favorite kind of humor; if it isn’t cruel and funny it doesn’t really cut the cake for me.”

– Elton John, English singer-songwriter. This British quote is from an interview he did with Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters.

5. “I think it has something to do with being British. We don’t take ourselves as seriously as other countries do.”

– Joan Collins, English actress, author and columnist

6. “The British nation is unique in this respect: they are the only people who like to be told how bad things are, who like to be told the worst.”

– Winston Churchill, British statesman. This British quote is from a speech he gave in the House of Commons on June 10, 1941.

7. “The tea-room lady called me love. All the shop ladies called me love and most of the men called me mate. I hadn’t been here twelve hours and already they loved me.”

– Bill Bryson, American-British author. This British quote is from Notes from a Small Island.

8. “My mind may be American but my heart is British.”

– T. S. Eliot, poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, critic, and editor

9. “The Brits don’t merely enjoy misery, they get off on it.”

– Eric Weiner, speaker, correspondent, and author. This British quote is from The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

10. “I fall in love with Britain every day, with bridges, buses, blue skies…”

– Pete Doherty, English musician, songwriter, actor, poet, writer, and artist

11. “The British definitely like their tea. It’s their solution to everything, all problems and concerns. If there’s ever a major crisis, a cup of tea will help.”

– C. R. Stewart, American writer. This British quote is from Britfield and the Lost Crown.

I hope you like these British quotes and that they’ve inspired you, made you laugh, and intrigued you as much as they have me. The United Kingdom is an amazing place, as everyone from Elton John to T. S. Eliot will tell you.

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