‘In political life, in the life-history of states, as in religious, as in intellectual and social history, change and growth, or what we now name Evolution, are perpetual, continuous, unresting. The empire which has ceased to advance has begun to recede.’
The Origins and Destiny of the British Empire is a historical account reflecting on the political, cultural, and religious ideals that shaped Britain as an imperial power. For Cramb, Britain's global dominance was not merely a historical accident, but its destiny resulting from its unique history. Written when the British Empire was at the height of its power, this book is a powerful articulation of the ideological underpinnings of the British Empire and a defense of the British Empire's continued mission of expansion against the challenges it faces from other major powers.
John Adam Cramb was a Scottish historian known for his strong patriotism towards the British Empire.