S. I. Hayakawa Quotes - Page 2

Animals struggle with each other for food or for leadership, but they do not, like human beings, struggle with each other for thatthat stands for food or leadership: such things as our paper symbols of wealth (money, bonds, titles), badges of rank to wear on our clothes, or low-number license plates, supposed by some people to stand for social precedence. For animals the relationship in which one thing stands for something else does not appear to exist except in very rudimentary form.

Advertising is a symbol-manipulating occupation

There is only one thing age can give you, and that is wisdom.

I believe we are being dishonest with language minority groups if we tell them they can take full part in American life without learning the English language.

Patriotic societies seem to think that the way to educate school children in a democracy is to stage bigger and better flag-saluting.

The United States is enriched by many cultures, and united by a single common language.

English is the key to full participation in the opportunities of American life.

The great thing about the United States is our ability to absorb foreign people and make them a part of us.

The last thing a scientist would do is cling to a map because he inherited it from his grandfather, or because it was used by George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.

I'm going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose.

We live in a highly competitive society, each of us trying to outdo the other in wealth, in popularity or social prestige, in dress, in scholastic grades or golf scores. One is often tempted to say that conflict, rather than cooperation, is the great governing principle of human life.

How anybody dresses is indicative of his self-concept. If students are dirty and ragged, it indicates they are not interested in tidying up their intellects either.

The English Language Amendment says above all, 'Let's see to it that our children, our young people, learn English. Let us not deny them the opportunity to participate in American life, so that they can go as far as their dreams and talents can take them.

English, our common language, binds our diverse people.

If I spoke no English, my world would be limited to the Japanese-speaking community, and no matter how talented I was, I could never do business, seek employment or take part in public affairs outside that community.

Agreement is brought about by changing people's minds - other people's.

The United States, a land of immigrants from every corner of the world, has been strengthened and unified because its newcomers have historically chosen ultimately to forgo their native language for the English language. We have all benefited from the sharing of ideas, of cultures and beliefs, made possible by a common language. We have all enriched each other.

Those terrifying verbal jungles called laws are simply such directives, accumulated, codified, and systematized through the centuries.