Doris Lessing Quotes

The foundations of empire are often occasions of woe; their dismemberment, always.

Dominion by land or sea will appear equally destitute of attraction, when it comes to be generally understood, that all its advantages rest with the rulers, and that the subjects at large derive no benefit whatever.

Whatever was the conduct of England, I am equally arraigned.

You know, the Brits had a way of - running an empire. And I don't think America is comfortable with an empire.

How is the Empire?

I cannot see anything but disaster in delaying to let the natives know that if the English government is non—aggressive it is so from a sense of justice, and from no want of power.

There is a holy mistaken zeal in politics as religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves.

When two countries are connected together, like England and her colonies, without being incorporated, the one must necessarily govern; the greater must rule the less; but so rule it, as not to contradict the fundamental principles that are common to both.

Britain has lost an empire and not yet found a role in the world.

We have got over our imperial past, and the withdrawal symptoms.

For Carolina once ruined and destroyed, the extermination of her [England's] colonial dependencies will follow.

I have not become the King's First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.

The British government in India constitutes a struggle between the Modern Civilization, which is the Kingdom of Satan, and the Ancient Civilization, which is the kingdom of God.

The more we work and the less we talk, the better it will be. If we lean this lesson of imperialism, we will keep our empire.

… to me, I confess, they are pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a game for domination of the world.

Empires just don’t bargain.

His Majesty’s dominions, on which the sun never sets.

The Decline and Fall of the American Empire

The British Empire is the greatest secular agency for good now known to mankind.

On you, it primarily rests whether Ireland shall remain an integral portion of a great empire, sharing in its glory … or whether … Ireland shall become the focus and the center of foreign intrigue and deadly conspiracy.

The United States although a superpower was never an empire..

The good government of one man is the bad government of another

The gulf between imperial ideals and empire on the ground has customarily proved disillusioning not only for colonial peoples but also for some in the occupying power.

There is no connection between imperialism and democracy. I mean when we ran an Empire which we did when I was born, there was no democracy anywhere.

England was the first true colonial power to use its dominion over a large part of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, North America, and many Caribbean islands, in the first half of the 20th century.