i don't agree that 'influence' on the world stage is the most important thing. in fact compared to the well-being of the people in a nation it is of no importance whatsoever. the last time i can recall the uk making a stance on anything in europe was on the right to not cap bankers' bonuses. in my memory our government have never taken a stance on anything that was contrary to the interests of the american military/industrial elite.
whenever i see eg william hague making some portentious statement on eg syria it just seems pathetic. i imagine that not one government - or probably one individual - with real influence could give a damn what our spokesmen say. europeans despair at our attitude and americans know we will just agree so don't care.
understanding our place in the modern world and attending to what is most important are better indicators of being grown up.
england and scotland are great places for most of us to be but the mark of a successful and civilized nation is how it looks after the vulnerable and least fortunate.