---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words matter. We've seen that with…"
description: "\"Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.\" — Alejandro Mayorkas"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg"
---

#  Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and…

![“Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.” quote by Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg)

> “Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.”

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Language shapes reality; it can inspire monumental change or cause profound harm, depending on how it is wielded.

**In simple terms:** Words can build or destroy.

Key Takeaway

Language wields power.

Themes

communication influence responsibility impact

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

ethical political

When to use this quote

- political speeches
- social media posts

Key Concepts

social construction of reality

Practical Applications

- choose precise, ethical language

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you measure a word's impact?
- When should speech be limited?

A Different Perspective

Impact depends on audience reception, not just intent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-matter/)

## Related quotes

> [The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who... looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-wright/the-desire-to-fly-is-an-idea-handed-down-to-us-by-our-ancestors-who/)

[Wilbur Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-wright/)

> [“When the fuel is dried up in a vehicle, it stops driving automatically. You are a vehicle in the spiritual and the physical world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-the-fuel-is-dried-up-in-a-vehicle-it-stops-driving-automatically/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [Medical costs are soaring because our health-care system is totally screwed up. Doctors and hospitals have every incentive to spend on unnecessary tests, drugs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/medical-costs-are-soaring-because-our-health-care-system-is-totally/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [“Let’s watch out for the unpredictability and the wildcat jumps of contrarian people, whose sole interests are soaring targets at high-speed, at all costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-s-watch-out-for-the-unpredictability-and-the-wildcat-jumps-of/)

[Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/)

> [The wings of hope carry us, soaring high above the winds of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-jacob/the-wings-of-hope-carry-us-soaring-high-above-the-winds-of-life/)

Ana Jacob

> [“and there is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-there-is-a-catskill-eagle-in-some-souls-that-can-alike-dive-down/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [Republican leadership in Congress let the energy companies write the energy bill that sent prices soaring, and has turned a blind eye to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrod-brown/republican-leadership-in-congress-let-the-energy-companies-write-the/)

[Sherrod Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrod-brown/)

> [You seemed to me to be soaring far up in the blue - to be sailing in the bright light, over the heads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/you-seemed-to-me-to-be-soaring-far-up-in-the-blue-to-be-sailing-in/)

[Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/)

> [Discrimination is alive and soaring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/discrimination-is-alive-and-soaring/)

[Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/)

> [I've been everywhere from soaring with the eagles to slithering with the snakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macho-man-randy-savage/i-ve-been-everywhere-from-soaring-with-the-eagles-to-slithering-with/)

[Macho Man Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macho-man-randy-savage/)

> [Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bell/technology-like-art-is-a-soaring-exercise-of-the-human-imagination/)

[Daniel Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bell/)

> [I'm terrified of heights, but I think there's something really beautiful about birds and soaring, having a bird's-eye view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-booth/i-m-terrified-of-heights-but-i-think-there-s-something-really/)

[Lindy Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-booth/)

> [You can be very efficient with lyrics, and you can get the heart fluttering or soaring or make someone cry with a really amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-minogue/you-can-be-very-efficient-with-lyrics-and-you-can-get-the-heart/)

[Kylie Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-minogue/)

> [Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aladdin/soaring-tumbling-freewheeling-through-an-endless-diamond-sky/)

[Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aladdin/)

> [Soar with wit. Conquer with dignity. Handle with care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/soar-with-wit-conquer-with-dignity-handle-with-care/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

## More by Alejandro Mayorkas

> [I'm a political refugee, and my identity as a political refugee was extraordinarily important to my upbringing. And my parents were very focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-m-a-political-refugee-and-my-identity-as-a-political-refugee-was/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [The impact of climate change, extreme weather events, the reason people are fleeing their homes is quite significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-impact-of-climate-change-extreme-weather-events-the-reason-people/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [I felt like the luckiest kid in the world with the parents I had. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-felt-like-the-luckiest-kid-in-the-world-with-the-parents-i-had/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [We are deeply concerned about false narratives, ideologies of hate that are fueled by conversations and messages on online platforms and other social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-deeply-concerned-about-false-narratives-ideologies-of-hate/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [The love for this country that I learned from my parents made the January 6 attack on the Capitol all the more horrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-love-for-this-country-that-i-learned-from-my-parents-made-the/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [Never underestimate the talent and dedication of the Department of Homeland Security workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/never-underestimate-the-talent-and-dedication-of-the-department-of/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [We are working with the office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in addressing the challenges with the social media companies to ensure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-working-with-the-office-of-civil-rights-and-civil-liberties-in/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [Horses can traverse terrain that might not otherwise be covered. In fact, horses are often used to not only assess a situation, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/horses-can-traverse-terrain-that-might-not-otherwise-be-covered-in/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [It's quite challenging in dealing with a country like Venezuela, where the diplomatic relations, if they exist at all, can be strained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/it-s-quite-challenging-in-dealing-with-a-country-like-venezuela-where/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [When a recipient of DACA suffers the expiration of the DACA, that individual is no longer lawfully present in the United States. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/when-a-recipient-of-daca-suffers-the-expiration-of-the-daca-that/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [I oversee three agencies and thousands - tens of thousands of individuals who focus on our immigration system and fixing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-oversee-three-agencies-and-thousands-tens-of-thousands-of/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [We have asylum laws that provide humanitarian relief. Those who qualify under those laws are entitled to the relief that we extend. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-have-asylum-laws-that-provide-humanitarian-relief-those-who/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [Title 42 authority has been applied, irrespective of the country of origin, irrespective of the race of the individual, irrespective of other criteria that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/title-42-authority-has-been-applied-irrespective-of-the-country-of/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

[Explore all 98 Alejandro Mayorkas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

## More Impact quotes

> [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/)

[Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/)

> [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/)

[Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/)

> [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/)

[Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/)

> [When I first heard that a comet was going to hit Jupiter, my reaction was, 'Eh. So what? Jupiter's huge. Comets are small. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hammel/when-i-first-heard-that-a-comet-was-going-to-hit-jupiter-my-reaction/)

[Heidi Hammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-hammel/)

> [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/)

[Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/)

> [A social impact bond is a new way of bringing financing into social and environmental support issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rodin/a-social-impact-bond-is-a-new-way-of-bringing-financing-into-social/)

[Judith Rodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rodin/)

> [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/)

[Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/)

> [I wanted to make a place for filmmakers and artists to come and 'do their stuff,' but I didn't expect it to have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-wanted-to-make-a-place-for-filmmakers-and-artists-to-come-and-do/)

[Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/)

> [In open source, you really have to be near the watershed to have an impact on the source code. Customers want to be near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fenton/in-open-source-you-really-have-to-be-near-the-watershed-to-have-an/)

[Peter Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-fenton/)

> [The pace of global warming is accelerating and the scale of the impact is devastating. The time for action is limited - we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/the-pace-of-global-warming-is-accelerating-and-the-scale-of-the/)

[Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/)

> [When I speak a serious subject in an informal and humorous way, it has bigger impact. So much so, when BBC made a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunachalam-muruganantham/when-i-speak-a-serious-subject-in-an-informal-and-humorous-way-it-has/)

[Arunachalam Muruganantham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunachalam-muruganantham/)

> [I would say my favorite tattoo is my first tattoo of my father, you know, just the remembrance of him, his legacy and impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-hopkins/i-would-say-my-favorite-tattoo-is-my-first-tattoo-of-my-father-you/)

[DeAndre Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-hopkins/)

> [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

[Browse all 4,093 Impact quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alejandro Mayorkas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soaring-impact-and-we-ve-seen-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Impact"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soaring-impact-and-we-ve-seen-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_impact_words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soarin_122892.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.” — Alejandro Mayorkas",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alejandro Mayorkas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Words matter. We've seen that with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soaring-impact-and-we-ve-seen-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soaring-impact-and-we-ve-seen-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
