--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a ridiculous demand which England…" description: "\"It is a ridiculous demand which England and America make, that you shall speak so that they can understand you. Neither men nor toadstools grow so.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_it-is-a-ridiculous-demand-which-england_768282.jpg" --- # It is a ridiculous demand which England and America make… ![“It is a ridiculous demand which England and America make, that you shall speak so that they can understand you. Neither men nor toadstools grow so.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_it-is-a-ridiculous-demand-which-england_768282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_it-is-a-ridiculous-demand-which-england_768282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_it-is-a-ridiculous-demand-which-england_768282.jpg) > “It is a ridiculous demand which England and America make, that you shall speak so that they can understand you. Neither men nor toadstools grow so.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language must be clear for mutual understanding; demanding clarity without effort is unreasonable. **In simple terms:** Clear speech requires effort from both sides. Key Takeaway Speak clearly and listen actively. Themes communication clarity mutual effort Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - public speaking - teaching - cross‑cultural dialogue Key Concepts language understanding social contract Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your message is understood? - What responsibilities do listeners have? A Different Perspective Assuming others will adapt without effort is unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Demand England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand-england-5943677/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [England America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-america-480467/) [England and america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-and-america/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Ridiculous Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous-demand-5943678/) [Shall Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-speak-715600/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Toadstools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toadstools/) ## Related quotes > [When Germany and England and America will long have lost their present identity or purpose, we shall still be strong in ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-samuel/when-germany-and-england-and-america-will-long-have-lost-their/) [Maurice Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-samuel/) > [I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man: wine is not so noble a liquor; and think of dashing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-believe-that-water-is-the-only-drink-for-a-wise-man-wine-is-not-so/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I have to work in England, but here in America you don't have to work. You can sort of enter the profession of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-have-to-work-in-england-but-here-in-america-you-don-t-have-to-work/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [The situation in America is when it starts moving there, all the bands from England move over to America and work from there, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-situation-in-america-is-when-it-starts-moving-there-all-the-bands/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest difference between England and America is that England has history, while America has geography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-biggest-difference-between-england-and-america-is-that-england/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There is always that age-old thing about England and America being divided by a common language. You think that because we speak English and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/there-is-always-that-age-old-thing-about-england-and-america-being/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [ “I do not agree with you that England and America are the two great humanitarian powers. . . . \[They are\] materialistic first and humanitarian only a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/i-do-not-agree-with-you-that-england-and-america-are-the-two-great/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [I regularly sell out more in England than I do in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/i-regularly-sell-out-more-in-england-than-i-do-in-america/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [I feel an enormous responsibility to bridge the gap between England and America, and be a sort of very quiet ambassador for my country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-feel-an-enormous-responsibility-to-bridge-the-gap-between-england/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [Everyone thinks England and America are the same, as we have the same language, but I felt like an alien as an English person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-murray/everyone-thinks-england-and-america-are-the-same-as-we-have-the-same/) [Jaime Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-murray/) > [I'd love to work in England or America. But as long as I'm doing what I love, then I'm happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samara-weaving/i-d-love-to-work-in-england-or-america-but-as-long-as-i-m-doing-what/) [Samara Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samara-weaving/) > [I'm not really a political animal but I am rather fascinated by the meltdown of England and America. In the end, it seems as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/i-m-not-really-a-political-animal-but-i-am-rather-fascinated-by-the/) [Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/) > [England and America are two countries separated by the same language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/england-and-america-are-two-countries-separated-by-the-same-language/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I have made almost as many films in England as I have in America. I will come back to England again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-have-made-almost-as-many-films-in-england-as-i-have-in-america-i/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [When Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning-rod, the clergy, both in England and America, with enthusiastic support of George III, condemned it as an impious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/when-benjamin-franklin-invented-the-lightning-rod-the-clergy-both-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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