Quotes about Languages

There are many different thoughts and opinions about learning foreign languages presented by famous people from all over the world. In their majority these quotations reveal the idea of a great power and usefulness of a person who can speak several foreign languages.

Browse through them just to widen your outlook and don't hesitate to follow all the pieces of advice of wise people recommending you to learn foreign languages for it really is a huge step towards your ultimate destination which invariably implies professional and personal success.

'Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own'

(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – German playwright, novelist, dramatist and poet 1749 – 1832).

'I speak two languages, Body and English'

(Mae West – American actress 1892-1980).

'That woman speaks eighteen languages and can't say 'NO' in any of them'.

(Dorothy Parker – American short-story writer, poet. 1983-1967).

'Through learning language, we learn about culture.

Through learning about culture, we learn respect of others.

Through learning respect of others, we can hope for peace.'

(Claire Kramsch, 'Context and Culture in Language Teaching').

'Give your mind a chance to travel through foreign languages'.

(Neil Simon).

'El que habla dos lenguas vale por dos'.

(A person who speaks two languages is worth two).

(Spanish saying).

'You can't see other people's points of view when you speak only one language'

(Frank smith).

'One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way'.

(Frank Smith).

'I wish life was not so short', he thought. 'Languages take such a time, and so do all things one wants to know about'.

(J.R.R. Tolkien – English professor and writer).

'To speak a foreign language is to posses a second soul'.

(Charlemagne).

'A different language is a different vision of life'.

(Federico Fellini – Italian movie director).

'When I speak Polish now, it is infiltrated, permeated, and inflected with English in my head. Each language modifies the other, crossbreeds with it, fertilizes it. Each language makes the other relative. Like everybody, I am the sum of my languages.'

(Eva Hoffman, Editor of the New York Times Book Review).

Inspired enough already? Then start learning your new worlds and becoming worth at least two people in the process of mastering foreign languages which are most appealing to you either from the point of view of work or pleasure. We wish you good luck and every success in this very uneasy field!