--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When an immigrant speaks of feeling…" description: "\"“When an immigrant speaks of feeling uncomfortable just know, you are in the presence of man who knows what the sting of assimilation is.”\" — Hannah V...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a92/hannah-v-sawyerr-52328_assimilation_when-an-immigrant-speaks-of-feeling-unco_2994803.jpg" --- # When an immigrant speaks of feeling uncomfortable just… ![“When an immigrant speaks of feeling uncomfortable just know, you are in the presence of man who knows what the sting of assimilation is.” quote by Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a92/hannah-v-sawyerr-52328_assimilation_when-an-immigrant-speaks-of-feeling-unco_2994803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a92/hannah-v-sawyerr-52328_assimilation_when-an-immigrant-speaks-of-feeling-unco_2994803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a92/hannah-v-sawyerr-52328_assimilation_when-an-immigrant-speaks-of-feeling-unco_2994803.jpg) > ““When an immigrant speaks of feeling uncomfortable just know, you are in the presence of man who knows what the sting of assimilation is.”” [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assimilation feels painful because it forces loss of original identity. **In simple terms:** Assimilation can sting. Key Takeaway Acknowledge pain, seek community support. Themes identity assimilation belonging Mood empathetic reflective Type social cultural When to use this quote - first‑generation college - language learning - cultural festivals - support groups Key Concepts cultural displacement psychological resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does your background shape your sense of belonging? - What can you do to ease others' transition? A Different Perspective Not all immigrants feel the same; experiences vary widely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assimilation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assimilation/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-quotes/) [Sierra leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sierra-leone/) ## Related quotes > [Reason speaks and feeling bites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/reason-speaks-and-feeling-bites/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“Being an immigrant is not a status but a state of mind. It doesn’t stop when you “assimilate” or “integrate” or when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/being-an-immigrant-is-not-a-status-but-a-state-of-mind-it-doesn-t/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [If the immigrant is responsible for assimilation of the country, and some of these people are in fact are born there. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/if-the-immigrant-is-responsible-for-assimilation-of-the-country-and/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [In novels and autobiographies, the first positive move that the immigrant makes towards assimilation is to buy himself a suit of city clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/in-novels-and-autobiographies-the-first-positive-move-that-the/) [Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/) > [Life begin at the end of your Comfort Zone. So if you're feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/life-begin-at-the-end-of-your-comfort-zone-so-if-you-re-feeling/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [And I went to New York and died; for 10 years I walked those pavements. I can't think of New York without feeling uncomfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-korman/and-i-went-to-new-york-and-died-for-10-years-i-walked-those-pavements/) [Harvey Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-korman/) > [I had always been feeling uncomfortable in my mind about giving advice to others and not acting upon it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lal-bahadur-shastri/i-had-always-been-feeling-uncomfortable-in-my-mind-about-giving/) [Lal Bahadur Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lal-bahadur-shastri/) > [Over time, it's occurred to me that my protagonists all originate in some aspect of myself that I find myself questioning or feeling uncomfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/over-time-it-s-occurred-to-me-that-my-protagonists-all-originate-in/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [Obviously for water safety, you want to learn just to be comfortable in the water; that's the main goal. I think the second that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/obviously-for-water-safety-you-want-to-learn-just-to-be-comfortable/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm OK with feeling uncomfortable. That's how you evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-m-ok-with-feeling-uncomfortable-that-s-how-you-evolve/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [My style statement is to be myself! Because if you try to imitate someone else, you will end up feeling uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shraddha-kapoor/my-style-statement-is-to-be-myself-because-if-you-try-to-imitate/) [Shraddha Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shraddha-kapoor/) > [I have tried to be more flexible, but I always end up feeling more uncomfortable. Retaining a sense of control is really important. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/i-have-tried-to-be-more-flexible-but-i-always-end-up-feeling-more/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So if you're feeling uncomfortable right now..know that the change taking place in your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socialmeemscom/life-begins-at-the-end-of-your-comfort-zone-so-if-you-re-feeling/) [Socialmeemscom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socialmeemscom/) > [If my Michael Jackson routine left even one person feeling uncomfortable or less joyful, I felt like it was in everyone's best interest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelyn-ohashi/if-my-michael-jackson-routine-left-even-one-person-feeling/) [Katelyn Ohashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelyn-ohashi/) > [“Farmer Giles went home feeling very uncomfortable. He was finding that a local reputation may require keeping up, and that may prove awkward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/farmer-giles-went-home-feeling-very-uncomfortable-he-was-finding-that/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) ## More by Hannah V. Sawyerr > [“People are not objects They are not meant for fixing And while I’ve sometimes been able to preserve— You can never revive a dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-v-sawyerr/people-are-not-objects-they-are-not-meant-for-fixing-and-while-i-ve/) [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) > [“I shoot the man who told me my womanism is of the devil As if he knew the demons that trouble me These demons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-v-sawyerr/i-shoot-the-man-who-told-me-my-womanism-is-of-the-devil-as-if-he-knew/) [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) > [“Testifying against my abuser is not about a trial or about revenge This is a woman learning that to wear the burden of hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-v-sawyerr/testifying-against-my-abuser-is-not-about-a-trial-or-about-revenge/) [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) > [“It is not your job to understand. Sick people do sick things. You do not understand the mind of an abuser, because you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-v-sawyerr/it-is-not-your-job-to-understand-sick-people-do-sick-things-you-do/) [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) > [“I have a birthmark on my calf that mimics the shape of a closed-mouth kiss. Most days, it is a reminder that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-v-sawyerr/i-have-a-birthmark-on-my-calf-that-mimics-the-shape-of-a-closed-mouth/) [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) > [“I grew into my hips when I was seventeen years old I learned from my mother She used hers like a boat To bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-v-sawyerr/i-grew-into-my-hips-when-i-was-seventeen-years-old-i-learned-from-my/) [Hannah V. Sawyerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) [Explore all 7 Hannah V. Sawyerr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-v-sawyerr/) ## More Assimilation quotes > [“The Portland school board's policy equated integration and racial assimilation. This policy, Rist explains, is a "means of socializing nonwhite students to act, speak,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-bell/the-portland-school-board-s-policy-equated-integration-and-racial/) [Derrick Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-bell/) > [“Being an immigrant is not a status but a state of mind. It doesn’t stop when you “assimilate” or “integrate” or when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/being-an-immigrant-is-not-a-status-but-a-state-of-mind-it-doesn-t/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [Great genius takes shape by contact with another great genius, but, less by assimilation than by friction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/great-genius-takes-shape-by-contact-with-another-great-genius-but/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [ “\[I\]nclusion, not assimilation, should be the key concept in seeking, ever seeking, a more perfect national union. Our own history has shown that we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/i-nclusion-not-assimilation-should-be-the-key-concept-in-seeking-ever/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [“It's a fact— everyone is ignorant in some way or another. Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-s-a-fact-everyone-is-ignorant-in-some-way-or-another-ignorance-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [“Fuck I hate fucks Who think they’re so fucking great They know everything about fucking, When they’re just fucking fucks fucking! And no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/initially-no/fuck-i-hate-fucks-who-think-they-re-so-fucking-great-they-know/) Initially NO > [Jewish history turns out not to be an either/or story - as in, either pure Judaism detached from its surroundings or else assimilation -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/jewish-history-turns-out-not-to-be-an-either-or-story-as-in-either/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [“It’s a great honor, m’ijo. We know that. I’m sure everyone in Ysleta is proud of you. But this is who you are," she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-troncoso/it-s-a-great-honor-m-ijo-we-know-that-i-m-sure-everyone-in-ysleta-is/) [Sergio Troncoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-troncoso/) > [Intellectual life requires for its expansion and manifestation the influences and assimilation of the interests and affections of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/intellectual-life-requires-for-its-expansion-and-manifestation-the/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [“Does assimilation mean that they never came up against naked prejudice? Does it mean that you understood where the limits of your social world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/does-assimilation-mean-that-they-never-came-up-against-naked/) [Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/) > [Knowledge is a free good. The biggest cost in its transmission is not in the production or distribution of knowledge, but in its assimilation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/knowledge-is-a-free-good-the-biggest-cost-in-its-transmission-is-not/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Finally it should be the earnest wish and paramount aim of the military administration to win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckinley/finally-it-should-be-the-earnest-wish-and-paramount-aim-of-the/) [William McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckinley/) > [If you would be a writer, first be a reader. Only through the assimilation of ideas, thoughts and philosophies can one begin to focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-w-eckert/if-you-would-be-a-writer-first-be-a-reader-only-through-the/) Allan W. Eckert > [We must have life building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-must-have-life-building-man-making-character-making-assimilation/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Browse all 141 Assimilation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assimilation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When an immigrant speaks of feeling uncomfortable just know, you are in the presence of man who knows what the sting of assimilation is.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hannah V. 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