--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One adopted their language, that of the…" description: "\"“One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the schools, one had none of one's own. At first it was like a release, like a key, like a road. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg" --- # One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the… ![“One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the schools, one had none of one's own. At first it was like a release, like a key, like a road. The only road in. Much later one discovers that what one was let into, at that time, was a tunnel. From which one can never again escape. Not…” quote by Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg) > ““One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the schools, one had none of one's own. At first it was like a release, like a key, like a road. The only road in. Much later one discovers that what one was let into, at that time, was a tunnel. From which one can never again escape. Not entirely. Not in this life.”” [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopting dominant language can feel liberating at first, but later reveals a limiting tunnel that confines personal expression. **In simple terms:** Language can become a restrictive tunnel. Key Takeaway Cultivate and preserve your own linguistic voice. Themes language identity freedom Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - teaching - cultural integration - personal development Key Concepts linguistic autonomy cultural assimilation self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape your sense of self? - What practices help maintain your unique voice? A Different Perspective Leaving dominant language may isolate you socially; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ I think the president \[Barack Obama\] adopted some of that same language, but took it into the White House. And I think, like, there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-think-the-president-barack-obama-adopted-some-of-that-same-language/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“In 1945, Oppenheimer posited that what happened during the Trinity Test was due to ‘Time Tunnels.’ A 50-year ‘time tunnel.” “So, in 1945, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-barel/in-1945-oppenheimer-posited-that-what-happened-during-the-trinity/) Francis Barel > [Flying a kite after your teens is like flying through a time tunnel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/flying-a-kite-after-your-teens-is-like-flying-through-a-time-tunnel/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [The magic's back and we're in a time tunnel, feeling like when we were in our 20s back in the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-criss/the-magic-s-back-and-we-re-in-a-time-tunnel-feeling-like-when-we-were/) [Peter Criss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-criss/) > [There will be a day on which we will realize that past and future are nothing else than what we call present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/there-will-be-a-day-on-which-we-will-realize-that-past-and-future-are/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“No, Geo—underneath all that, Nan really loves me. It’s just she wants me to see things her way. You know, she’s two years older;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/no-geo-underneath-all-that-nan-really-loves-me-it-s-just-she-wants-me/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [“Life is like a Road Atlas. Depending on the direction you choose, some roads may lead to heaven, and others may lead you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-roberts/life-is-like-a-road-atlas-depending-on-the-direction-you-choose-some/) [Robert M. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-roberts/) > [“Garraty thought that memories were like a line drawn in the dirt. The further back you went the scuffier and harder to see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bachman/garraty-thought-that-memories-were-like-a-line-drawn-in-the-dirt-the/) [Richard Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bachman/) > [A good girl is like a road, you gotta look both ways before you cross em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/a-good-girl-is-like-a-road-you-gotta-look-both-ways-before-you-cross/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [Life is never so simple its always like a road in a mountain ,up and down ,so try to be claim and enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-chand/life-is-never-so-simple-its-always-like-a-road-in-a-mountain-up-and/) Dinesh Chand > [Nothing like the road to rub all the sand out of your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clellon-holmes/nothing-like-the-road-to-rub-all-the-sand-out-of-your-soul/) [John Clellon Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clellon-holmes/) > [Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/hope-is-like-a-road-in-the-country-there-was-never-a-road-but-when/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [“Don’t drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/don-t-drive-like-you-own-the-road-drive-like-you-own-the-car/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“What had happened was this: I fell out of my own map. It's an easy thing to do, especially in middle age, but really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-darling/what-had-happened-was-this-i-fell-out-of-my-own-map-it-s-an-easy/) Lynn Darling > [If you don't like the road youre walking, start paving another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/if-you-don-t-like-the-road-youre-walking-start-paving-another-one/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) ## More by Peter Hoeg > [“It's a phenomenon that I've often observed without understanding it. Inside someone another person can exist, a fully formed, generous, and trustworthy individual who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/it-s-a-phenomenon-that-i-ve-often-observed-without-understanding-it/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“If you consider all the unpleasantness you encounter while you're alive, it seems improbable that it would all come to an end simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/if-you-consider-all-the-unpleasantness-you-encounter-while-you-re/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“In ten years they would be dead, deported or in leadership positions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/in-ten-years-they-would-be-dead-deported-or-in-leadership-positions/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Cantor illustrated the concept of infinity for his students by telling them that there was once a man who had a hotel with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/cantor-illustrated-the-concept-of-infinity-for-his-students-by/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“We all live our lives blindly believing in the people who make the decisions. Believing in science. Because the world is inscrutable and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/we-all-live-our-lives-blindly-believing-in-the-people-who-make-the/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“April light was unlike any other. It had a charming, optimistic unreliability like an overbid hand in poker. It gave a promise of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/april-light-was-unlike-any-other-it-had-a-charming-optimistic/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Around a child, people come and go, objects appear and are taken away, surroundings take shape and disintegrate. And no explanation is given, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/around-a-child-people-come-and-go-objects-appear-and-are-taken-away/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Back then I could not understand one word of what I read. Reading did, however, give me heart. Even if you cannot understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/back-then-i-could-not-understand-one-word-of-what-i-read-reading-did/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“If you became blind," I said, "if you were used to finding your way around a house and then, suddenly, one day had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/if-you-became-blind-i-said-if-you-were-used-to-finding-your-way/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Even the raven started out in human form, and he fumbled blindly, and his actions were haphazard until it was revealed to him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/even-the-raven-started-out-in-human-form-and-he-fumbled-blindly-and/) [peter hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) [Explore all 11 Peter Hoeg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) ## More Language quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the schools, one had none of one's own. At first it was like a release, like a key, like a road. The only road in. Much later one discovers that what one was let into, at that time, was a tunnel. From which one can never again escape. Not entirely. Not in this life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Hoeg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-teachers-and-the-schools-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Language" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-teachers-and-the-schools-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/peter-hoeg-35897_language_one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-t_3211926.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the schools, one had none of one's own. At first it was…” — Peter Hoeg", "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": "Peter Hoeg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One adopted their language, that of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-teachers-and-the-schools-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-teachers-and-the-schools-one/#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 } } ] } ```