What Tom Holland has said about American Revolution
3 quotes · 1 episode · Jul 1, 2026
Tom Holland, English actor cast as Telemachus, has been quoted on American Revolution 3 times in 1 episode of The Rest Is History, most recently on July 1, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Holland interprets Franklin's parable as casting Britain as the mastiff and America as the lion cub that would grow to overpower it.
“The mastiff, the kind of pedigree dog, is Britain and the lion cub is America”
The Rest Is History: 684. Franklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2) (Jul 1, 2026) · Listen from 3:52
Holland states that Franklin was the only man to sign all four foundational documents of the United States.
“he is the only man who signs all four of the kind of the foundational documents of the infant United States”
The Rest Is History: 684. Franklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2) (Jul 1, 2026) · Listen from 3:47
Holland argues that by 1770 Franklin had been in London so long he had lost touch with growing American radicalism.
“he's kind of lost touch with the growing mood of radicalism on the other side of the Atlantic”
The Rest Is History: 684. Franklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2) (Jul 1, 2026) · Listen from 36:30
Episodes
684. Franklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2)The Rest Is History · Jul 1, 2026 · 1 h 13 min
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook trace Benjamin Franklin's life from Puritan Boston boyhood and Enlightenment fame to revolutionary diplomat, Constitution signatory and late abolitionist.
Others on American Revolution
- Dominic Sandbrook · 1 quote
- Michael Knowles · 1 quote
Tom Holland on other topics
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- Odyssey · 7 quotes
- Slavery in the United States · 7 quotes
- Fall of Maximilien Robespierre · 4 quotes
- Habsburg monarchy · 4 quotes
- Jefferson–Hemings controversy · 4 quotes
- Apartheid · 4 quotes
- Mona Lisa · 4 quotes