--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Canadian is someone who keeps asking…" description: "\"A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, 'What is a Canadian?\" — Irving Layton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg" --- # A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, 'What… ![“A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, 'What is a Canadian?” quote by Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg) > “A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, 'What is a Canadian?” [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A Canadian constantly questions what defines their national identity. **In simple terms:** Canadian identity is a perpetual question. Key Takeaway Explore what makes you Canadian. Themes national identity self‑questioning culture Canada philosophy Mood thoughtful curious reflective Type philosophical personal inspirational When to use this quote - travel within Canada - civic discussions - educational projects - personal essays Key Concepts identity formation cultural introspection Questions to Reflect On - What does being Canadian mean to you? - How do you express your national identity? A Different Perspective May be too abstract for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Asking Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-question/) [Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) [Canadian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canadian/) [Canadian Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canadian-keeps-5464125/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Keeps Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps-asking-244332/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Question Canadian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-canadian-5464124/) ## Related quotes > [Girl: Why do you constantly keep posting my name as your Facebook status every 2 minutes? Boy: Facebook keeps asking me whats on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/girl-why-do-you-constantly-keep-posting-my-name-as-your-facebook/) [Bubbly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbly/) > [Everyone keeps asking you for pictures, and after a while you get tired of that. I always say, They are in the archives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/everyone-keeps-asking-you-for-pictures-and-after-a-while-you-get/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [She keeps asking me where we're going." "Yeah," another voice said. It was Shane, pulling up a chair beside Claire. "Girls do that. They've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/she-keeps-asking-me-where-we-re-going-yeah-another-voice-said-it-was/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Girl: Why's my name your Facebook status every 2 minutes? Boy: Facebook keeps asking me whats on my mind? and honestly its always you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/girl-why-s-my-name-your-facebook-status-every-2-minutes-boy-facebook/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Face Book keeps asking me to complete my relationship status; I doubt it has the soul of a gossip magazine column's starving journalist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahla-khan/face-book-keeps-asking-me-to-complete-my-relationship-status-i-doubt/) [Shahla Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahla-khan/) > [Shilpa keeps asking me to practice yoga, and after much deliberation, I have added it into my regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamita-shetty/shilpa-keeps-asking-me-to-practice-yoga-and-after-much-deliberation-i/) [Shamita Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamita-shetty/) > [Very cute answer by a Bf to his Gf... Girl :~ Why my name is always on your facebook status in every 2 minutes..??…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-the-best/very-cute-answer-by-a-bf-to-his-gf-girl-why-my-name-is-always-on-your/) [SAM (THE BEST](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-the-best/) > [I can't believe you just did that! Are you crazy?" I gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Why do people keep asking me that?" He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/i-can-t-believe-you-just-did-that-are-you-crazy-i-gripped-the/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [I cannot expect even my own art to provide all of the answers, only to hope it keeps asking the right questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hartigan/i-cannot-expect-even-my-own-art-to-provide-all-of-the-answers-only-to/) [Grace Hartigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hartigan/) > [Ill keep smiling, if that keeps you from asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/ill-keep-smiling-if-that-keeps-you-from-asking/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [We keep telling God our opinions; He keeps asking us about our hearts. We'll grow the most when we have the right conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/we-keep-telling-god-our-opinions-he-keeps-asking-us-about-our-hearts/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“See, Mr. Nak'll be talking about how anger comes creeping up, hoping you're not paying attention so it can trick you into something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/see-mr-nak-ll-be-talking-about-how-anger-comes-creeping-up-hoping-you/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [I don't know what's going on with Mum and Dad, but it's weird. Mum keeps asking Dad to do things and he keeps doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/i-don-t-know-what-s-going-on-with-mum-and-dad-but-it-s-weird-mum/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [Girl: Why You Post My Name On Your Facebook Status In Every 2 Minutes? Boy: Facebook Keeps Asking Me WhatS On My Mind? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/girl-why-you-post-my-name-on-your-facebook-status-in-every-2-minutes/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Everyone keeps asking me: 'Are you going to win?' How on earth do you know if you're going to win or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-piggott/everyone-keeps-asking-me-are-you-going-to-win-how-on-earth-do-you/) [Lester Piggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-piggott/) ## More by Irving Layton > [By walking, I found out where I was going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/by-walking-i-found-out-where-i-was-going/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Time flames like a paraffin stove / and what burns are the minutes I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/time-flames-like-a-paraffin-stove-and-what-burns-are-the-minutes-i/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Progress of a marriage: There was a time when you couldn't make me happy. Now the time has come when you can make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/progress-of-a-marriage-there-was-a-time-when-you-couldn-t-make-me/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Conscience: self-esteem with a halo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/conscience-self-esteem-with-a-halo/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [It amazes me that organs that piss Can give human beings such perfect bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/it-amazes-me-that-organs-that-piss-can-give-human-beings-such-perfect/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [I have stopped being a misanthrope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/i-have-stopped-being-a-misanthrope/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [My neighbor doesn't want to be loved as much as he wants to be envied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/my-neighbor-doesn-t-want-to-be-loved-as-much-as-he-wants-to-be-envied/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Since I no longer expect anything from mankind except madness, meanness, and mendacity; egotism, cowardice, and self-delusion, I have stopped being a misanthrope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/since-i-no-longer-expect-anything-from-mankind-except-madness/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [And me happiest when I compose poems: Love, power, the huzza of battle are something, are much: yet a poem includes them like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/and-me-happiest-when-i-compose-poems-love-power-the-huzza-of-battle/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [A political leader worthy of assassination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-political-leader-worthy-of-assassination/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Only the tiniest fracton of mankind want freedom. All the rest want someone to tell them theyare free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/only-the-tiniest-fracton-of-mankind-want-freedom-all-the-rest-want/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [We love in another's soul whatever of ourselves we can deposit in it; the greater the deposit, the greater the love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/we-love-in-another-s-soul-whatever-of-ourselves-we-can-deposit-in-it/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [An aphorism should be like a burr: sting, ... and leave a little soreness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/an-aphorism-should-be-like-a-burr-sting-and-leave-a-little-soreness/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [Idealist: a cynic in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/idealist-a-cynic-in-the-making/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [It amazes me that organs thatpiss Can give human beings such perfect bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/it-amazes-me-that-organs-thatpiss-can-give-human-beings-such-perfect/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) [Explore all 27 Irving Layton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, 'What is a Canadian?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irving Layton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-the-question-what-is-a-canadian/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-the-question-what-is-a-canadian/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/irving-layton-22742_asking_a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-t_2306501.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, 'What is a Canadian?” — Irving Layton", "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": "Irving Layton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A Canadian is someone who keeps...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-the-question-what-is-a-canadian/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-canadian-is-someone-who-keeps-asking-the-question-what-is-a-canadian/#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 } } ] } ```