---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you've lived in England for five…"
description: "\"If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.\" — Jack Wilshere"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png"
---

#  If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it…

![“If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.” quote by Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png)

> “If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.”

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

## About This Quote

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

Living in England for years doesn’t automatically make one English.

**In simple terms:** Residence ≠ identity.

Key Takeaway

Identity is cultural, not just geographic.

Themes

identity culture nationality belonging

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

sociological personal

When to use this quote

- immigration
- sports representation
- personal identity

Key Concepts

social identity theory cultural assimilation

Questions to Reflect On

- What truly defines national identity?
- How do locals perceive long‑term residents?

A Different Perspective

Legal status may differ from personal identity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/)

## Related quotes

> [Although I've lived in England for more than twenty years, I still have a foreigner's passion for all the details of English history and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-rosoff/although-i-ve-lived-in-england-for-more-than-twenty-years-i-still/)

[Meg Rosoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-rosoff/)

> [I have an English family and I've lived in England for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/i-have-an-english-family-and-i-ve-lived-in-england-for-years/)

[Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/)

> [Americans do seem to say things which make the English notice England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/americans-do-seem-to-say-things-which-make-the-english-notice-england/)

[Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/)

> [I've never really had the urge to make an English album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-leehom/i-ve-never-really-had-the-urge-to-make-an-english-album/)

[Wang Leehom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-leehom/)

> [My sister lived in England for a while when I was 12, and I came to visit her, and I spent most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/my-sister-lived-in-england-for-a-while-when-i-was-12-and-i-came-to/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I live in Santa Barbara. My wife's American, and she lived in England for 11 years and then told me she'd had enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-live-in-santa-barbara-my-wife-s-american-and-she-lived-in-england/)

[Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/)

> [I live in Beverly Hills and I'm proud of it. The only things I miss are pie and mash shops and football games. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jones/i-live-in-beverly-hills-and-i-m-proud-of-it-the-only-things-i-miss/)

[Steve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jones/)

> [I got tired of Los Angeles, and I got tired of the game a bit. I wanted to have a different life experience, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-got-tired-of-los-angeles-and-i-got-tired-of-the-game-a-bit-i-wanted/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [I have lived in England for a long time. And I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bonnar/i-have-lived-in-england-for-a-long-time-and-i-love-it/)

[Mark Bonnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bonnar/)

> [The wives of Henry VIII are too big to be left to chick lit. Their importance is the impact they have on the broad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/the-wives-of-henry-viii-are-too-big-to-be-left-to-chick-lit-their/)

[David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/)

> [ I studied Italian five hours a day for many months to ensure I could communicate with the players, media and fans. \[Claudio\] Ranieri had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/i-studied-italian-five-hours-a-day-for-many-months-to-ensure-i-could/)

[Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/)

> [“I shook my head. “The men in green all forsook England a hundred years ago,” said I, speaking as seriously as he had done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-shook-my-head-the-men-in-green-all-forsook-england-a-hundred-years/)

[Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [I loved playing in England. But after a few years, I didn't find it challenging enough. I wouldn't say I was bored, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-loved-playing-in-england-but-after-a-few-years-i-didn-t-find-it/)

[Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/)

> [I want to try and keep the shirt and play in England for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/i-want-to-try-and-keep-the-shirt-and-play-in-england-for-many-years/)

[Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/)

> [“The first years of my life are of no imprtance. At the age of nine, I was packed off to a preparatory school in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovic-kennedy/the-first-years-of-my-life-are-of-no-imprtance-at-the-age-of-nine-i/)

Ludovic Kennedy

## More by Jack Wilshere

> [Players and people make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/players-and-people-make-mistakes/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [I went to Bournemouth and had a great time. The idea was just to prove to myself that I can still play at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-went-to-bournemouth-and-had-a-great-time-the-idea-was-just-to-prove/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [I'm always in contact with my manager at Arsenal, who has been a big part of my career, and I'll always talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-m-always-in-contact-with-my-manager-at-arsenal-who-has-been-a-big/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [Loyalty is a big part of football, and it shows if you are a real man or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/loyalty-is-a-big-part-of-football-and-it-shows-if-you-are-a-real-man/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [When you are injured - and injured for a while - it is hard. You have to go to the training ground and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/when-you-are-injured-and-injured-for-a-while-it-is-hard-you-have-to/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [We have loyalty at Arsenal, and players have shown that in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/we-have-loyalty-at-arsenal-and-players-have-shown-that-in-the-past/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [I want to play in the Premier League, the Champions League, and I want to continue playing for England. If I'm going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-want-to-play-in-the-premier-league-the-champions-league-and-i-want/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [The only people who should play for England are English people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/the-only-people-who-should-play-for-england-are-english-people/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [I know the best way to recover and get the right amount of sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-know-the-best-way-to-recover-and-get-the-right-amount-of-sleep/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [When I was 18 or 19, I would come into training, and I'd be the last in and first out. I was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/when-i-was-18-or-19-i-would-come-into-training-and-i-d-be-the-last-in/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [I know my body better. I know how to be more professional. I know how to get myself ready for the games, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-know-my-body-better-i-know-how-to-be-more-professional-i-know-how/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [I haven't eaten junk food since I was 11, but I'm not teetotal: I have a drink maybe once a month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-haven-t-eaten-junk-food-since-i-was-11-but-i-m-not-teetotal-i-have/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [It's a dream to play for England, so if I'm selected, I'd look forward to playing. But it's down to the powers above me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/it-s-a-dream-to-play-for-england-so-if-i-m-selected-i-d-look-forward/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [As a player, if your attitude is questioned, it's horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/as-a-player-if-your-attitude-is-questioned-it-s-horrible/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

> [It's impossible for one player to play the whole year. I've learnt that myself, and you're always bound to get injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/it-s-impossible-for-one-player-to-play-the-whole-year-i-ve-learnt/)

[Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

[Explore all 103 Jack Wilshere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/)

## More England quotes

> [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [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/)

> [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/)

[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/)

> [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> ['Downton Abbey' is my worst nightmare. I just hate that whole 'Upstairs Downstairs' thing, I think it's really lazy and it doesn't represent England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/downton-abbey-is-my-worst-nightmare-i-just-hate-that-whole-upstairs/)

[Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/)

> [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [These fledgling democracies in the Middle East, they're actually fighting for their freedom. And what are they rioting for in England? Leisurewear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/these-fledgling-democracies-in-the-middle-east-they-re-actually/)

[Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/)

> [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/)

[Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/)

> [“Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing. That they lost France and made his England bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-france-and-england-did-this-king-succeed-whose-state-so-many-had/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [In my view, fitness training isn't that important in England, as they all train with such intensity anyway and have a competitive edge when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/in-my-view-fitness-training-isn-t-that-important-in-england-as-they/)

[Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/)

> [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/)

[Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/)

[Browse all 4,190 England quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Wilshere"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-years-for-me-it-doesn-t-make-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "England"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-years-for-me-it-doesn-t-make-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-year_2207914.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.” — Jack Wilshere",
                "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": "Jack Wilshere",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you've lived in England for...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-years-for-me-it-doesn-t-make-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/if-you-ve-lived-in-england-for-five-years-for-me-it-doesn-t-make-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
