--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: English should be our official language…" description: "\"English should be our official language. Reading and speaking English are requirements to become a citizen.\" — Ernest Istook" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/ernest-istook-20942_citizen_english-should-be-our-official-language_500252.png" --- # English should be our official language. Reading and… ![“English should be our official language. Reading and speaking English are requirements to become a citizen.” quote by Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/ernest-istook-20942_citizen_english-should-be-our-official-language_500252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/ernest-istook-20942_citizen_english-should-be-our-official-language_500252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/ernest-istook-20942_citizen_english-should-be-our-official-language_500252.png) > “English should be our official language. Reading and speaking English are requirements to become a citizen.” [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that English proficiency should be a prerequisite for citizenship, linking language to national identity. **In simple terms:** English should be required for citizenship. Key Takeaway Consider language requirements for civic integration. Themes language citizenship policy Mood controversial pragmatic Type political social When to use this quote - immigration law - citizenship tests - language classes - public debate Key Concepts national identity integration education Questions to Reflect On - Should language be a barrier to citizenship? - How can societies balance integration with diversity? A Different Perspective May exclude non‑English speakers and ignore multilingual benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [Instead of this confusion, we need the unifying force of an official language, English, which is the language of success in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/instead-of-this-confusion-we-need-the-unifying-force-of-an-official/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [With all the divisive forces tearing at our country, we need the glue of language to help hold us together. If we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/with-all-the-divisive-forces-tearing-at-our-country-we-need-the-glue/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [“This situation is further complicated when the linguist is confronted with speakers of Romany. The largest minority in Europe have no state of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-autonoma-evi/this-situation-is-further-complicated-when-the-linguist-is-confronted/) [Jovan Autonomašević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-autonoma-evi/) > [Quebec can make french the only official language is spite of the constitution. Pierre Trudeau 1967](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/quebec-can-make-french-the-only-official-language-is-spite-of-the/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“Any place where they got to vote on whether English is the official language don’t belong in the United States.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/any-place-where-they-got-to-vote-on-whether-english-is-the-official/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [“I think we can all agree that the official language of the United States should be Latin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/i-think-we-can-all-agree-that-the-official-language-of-the-united/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“English, although the official language of Nigeria, was a formal language with which strangers and non-relatives addressed you. It had the potency of digging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chigozie-obioma/english-although-the-official-language-of-nigeria-was-a-formal/) [Chigozie Obioma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chigozie-obioma/) > [I support local solutions to illegal immigration as protected by the 10th amendment. I support making English the official language of all documents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-support-local-solutions-to-illegal-immigration-as-protected-by-the/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The official language of the State of Illinois shall be known hereafter as the American language, and not the English language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-church/the-official-language-of-the-state-of-illinois-shall-be-known/) [Frank Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-church/) > [We recognised Urdu as the second official language and made it a medium of examination in all Bihar Public Service Commission tests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalu-prasad-yadav/we-recognised-urdu-as-the-second-official-language-and-made-it-a/) [Lalu Prasad Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalu-prasad-yadav/) > [“Stop being silly, her name is Reshidatu. It is a pity that our official language is English, and a greater pity that our three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/stop-being-silly-her-name-is-reshidatu-it-is-a-pity-that-our-official/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [“To read makes our speaking English good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/to-read-makes-our-speaking-english-good/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I know speaking English will benefit me enormously but it's difficult to loosen up enough to have the confidence to start a conversation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-almiron/i-know-speaking-english-will-benefit-me-enormously-but-it-s-difficult/) [Miguel Almiron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-almiron/) > [I think speaking English is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinho/i-think-speaking-english-is-beautiful/) [Robinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinho/) > [We've been speaking English as a second language so long that we've forgotten it as our first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ve-been-speaking-english-as-a-second-language-so-long-that-we-ve/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Ernest Istook > [There are many alternatives to embryonic stem cell research, alternatives with great potential. We need to support these and oppose creating life for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/there-are-many-alternatives-to-embryonic-stem-cell-research/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The motives of these parents vary, many parents don't like the curriculum being taught to their kids, or are wary of the threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-motives-of-these-parents-vary-many-parents-don-t-like-the/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [It's good that the first half of the speech emphasized freedom, because George W. Bush has been the global champion for freedom. As he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/it-s-good-that-the-first-half-of-the-speech-emphasized-freedom/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [We need uniform protection of traditional marriage. You can't have different definitions on something as fundamental as marriage. The Marriage Protection Amendment is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/we-need-uniform-protection-of-traditional-marriage-you-can-t-have/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [There's a lot of exaggerated talk about CAFTA, but it's actually a fairly routine trade agreement. Although it involves fairly small nations, they're still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/there-s-a-lot-of-exaggerated-talk-about-cafta-but-it-s-actually-a/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [We cannot sacrifice innocent human life now for vague and exaggerated promises of medical treatments thirty of forty years from now. There are ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/we-cannot-sacrifice-innocent-human-life-now-for-vague-and-exaggerated/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The American people do not want people thumbing their nose at the law. It undercuts the very fabric of our society and the system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-american-people-do-not-want-people-thumbing-their-nose-at-the-law/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Americans should be free to recognize our religious heritage; doing that is not the same as creating a government-sponsored religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/americans-should-be-free-to-recognize-our-religious-heritage-doing/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [I remind everyone: Whether you school them at home or send them to school, you as a parent have the responsibility to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/i-remind-everyone-whether-you-school-them-at-home-or-send-them-to/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Out of control judicial activism threatens traditional marriage in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/out-of-control-judicial-activism-threatens-traditional-marriage-in/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Instead of this confusion, we need the unifying force of an official language, English, which is the language of success in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/instead-of-this-confusion-we-need-the-unifying-force-of-an-official/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Thousands of present day students, like many of our Founding Fathers, are being taught at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/thousands-of-present-day-students-like-many-of-our-founding-fathers/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Education begins at home and I applaud the parents who recognize that they - not someone else - must take responsibility to assure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/education-begins-at-home-and-i-applaud-the-parents-who-recognize-that/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The courts are using the First Amendment to attack religion, when they should be using it to protect religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-courts-are-using-the-first-amendment-to-attack-religion-when-they/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [We are all American. If we believe that we are Americans, if we believe that what binds us together is what we have in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/we-are-all-american-if-we-believe-that-we-are-americans-if-we-believe/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) [Explore all 30 Ernest Istook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) ## More Citizen quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Up until the point that you're a citizen, we wanna continue to make sure we understand who you are and why you're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstjen-nielsen/up-until-the-point-that-you-re-a-citizen-we-wanna-continue-to-make/) [Kirstjen Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstjen-nielsen/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“In a country of ideas, consciousness is its' citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-a-country-of-ideas-consciousness-is-its-citizen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Browse all 464 Citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "English should be our official language. 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