--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know at first that there were…" description: "\"I didn't know at first that there were two languages in Canada.I just thought that there was one way to speak to my father and another to talk to my mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg" --- # I didn't know at first that there were two languages in… ![“I didn't know at first that there were two languages in Canada.I just thought that there was one way to speak to my father and another to talk to my mother.” quote by Louis St. Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg) > “I didn't know at first that there were two languages in Canada.I just thought that there was one way to speak to my father and another to talk to my mother.” [Louis St. Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-st-laurent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Canada’s bilingual reality reflects distinct cultural languages, not a single uniform voice. **In simple terms:** Canada has two languages. Key Takeaway Respect linguistic diversity. Themes culture language national identity Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type political reflective When to use this quote - education - government services - media broadcasting Key Concepts bilingual policy cultural integration Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape your identity? - What can foster unity across languages? A Different Perspective Language policies may create division if not inclusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Know Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-languages-673874/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/languages/) [Languages Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/languages-canada-620057/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [One way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-way/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Spanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spanish/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-father-311735/) [Talk Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-mother-1288370/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Indigenous languages are Canada's national treasures. They are our identity. We simply have to put greater effort into rejuvenating and revitalizing them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-bellegarde/indigenous-languages-are-canada-s-national-treasures-they-are-our/) [Perry Bellegarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-bellegarde/) > [“People know two languages: their native language and gibberish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maribel-c-pagan/people-know-two-languages-their-native-language-and-gibberish/) [Maribel C. Pagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maribel-c-pagan/) > [When I started out in films, I didn't know any of the languages I worked in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tresa/when-i-started-out-in-films-i-didn-t-know-any-of-the-languages-i/) [Catherine Tresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tresa/) > [I had to know at least two languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novak-djokovic/i-had-to-know-at-least-two-languages/) [Novak Djokovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novak-djokovic/) > [Let's not forget, there are three languages in Canada - English, French, and there's the language of jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/let-s-not-forget-there-are-three-languages-in-canada-english-french/) [Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/) > [“That first night in the cave… why did you—I mean, why haven’t you done it again?” His arms tightened around her. “I thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/that-first-night-in-the-cave-why-did-you-i-mean-why-haven-t-you-done/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [The Bush people have no right to speak for my father, particularly because of the position he's in now (Alzheimer's Syndrome). Yes, some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/the-bush-people-have-no-right-to-speak-for-my-father-particularly/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [“I had to rush back into my bedroom because Mum suddenly came out of the room to the kitchen and shouted up to me:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/i-had-to-rush-back-into-my-bedroom-because-mum-suddenly-came-out-of/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [I speak with my father about everything in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-kushner/i-speak-with-my-father-about-everything-in-my-life/) [Jared Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-kushner/) > [What a marvelous and wonderful thing is # prayer . Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in # Heaven .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/what-a-marvelous-and-wonderful-thing-is-prayer-think-of-it-we-can/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [If, like Harry Keogh, I could talk to the dead - God, there are an awful lot of people I would like to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lumley/if-like-harry-keogh-i-could-talk-to-the-dead-god-there-are-an-awful/) [Brian Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lumley/) > [After every game, I speak to my father. He is my number one fan and I will never forget how we were and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-partey/after-every-game-i-speak-to-my-father-he-is-my-number-one-fan-and-i/) [Thomas Partey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-partey/) > [Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/own-only-what-you-can-always-carry-with-you-know-languages-know-2/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [I meet people overseas that know five languages - that the only language I'm comfortable in is English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-meet-people-overseas-that-know-five-languages-that-the-only/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Those who have suffered much are like those who know many languages; they have learned to understand and be understood by all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/those-who-have-suffered-much-are-like-those-who-know-many-languages/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) ## More by Louis St. Laurent > [There are two kinds: one takes the music too fast, and the other too slow. There is no third!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/there-are-two-kinds-one-takes-the-music-too-fast-and-the-other-too/) [Louis St. Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-st-laurent/) > [Socialists are Liberals in a hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/socialists-are-liberals-in-a-hurry/) [Louis St. Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-st-laurent/) > [If we are to preserve civilization, we must first remain civilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/if-we-are-to-preserve-civilization-we-must-first-remain-civilized/) [Louis St. Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-st-laurent/) [Explore all 4 Louis St. Laurent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-st-laurent/) ## More Canada quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [Purchasing items made in the U.S. for our stores here or Canadian goods for our stores in Canada makes good business sense because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/purchasing-items-made-in-the-u-s-for-our-stores-here-or-canadian/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [“To be honest, it's a real relief to go to Canada where I can be among my relatives. Just the kind of break I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-puddicombe/to-be-honest-it-s-a-real-relief-to-go-to-canada-where-i-can-be-among/) [Ken Puddicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-puddicombe/) > [When I left Canada for Bayern, people said, 'You'll never make it. You'll be back in a year.' I stopped going to school because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/when-i-left-canada-for-bayern-people-said-you-ll-never-make-it-you-ll/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/) [Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/) > [The movement across Canada to fight toxic chemicals is a women's movement. It's a concern about health; it's very intimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-movement-across-canada-to-fight-toxic-chemicals-is-a-women-s/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I grew up working in Canada so everything was low budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-grew-up-working-in-canada-so-everything-was-low-budget/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) [Browse all 1,873 Canada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know at first that there were two languages in Canada.I just thought that there was one way to speak to my father and another to talk to my mother.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis St. Laurent" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-two-languages-in-canada-i-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Canada" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-two-languages-in-canada-i-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/louis-st-laurent-67201_canada_i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-t_2901991.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't know at first that there were two languages in Canada.I just thought that there was one way to…” — Louis St. Laurent", "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": "Louis St. Laurent", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-st-laurent/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't know at first that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-two-languages-in-canada-i-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-st-laurent/i-didn-t-know-at-first-that-there-were-two-languages-in-canada-i-just/#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 } } ] } ```