--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bilingualism is not an imposition on the…" description: "\"Bilingualism is not an imposition on the citizens. The citizens can go on speaking one language or six languages, or no languages if they so choose. Bi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/pierre-trudeau-3495_bilingualism_bilingualism-is-not-an-imposition-on-the_2706920.png" --- # Bilingualism is not an imposition on the citizens. The… ![“Bilingualism is not an imposition on the citizens. The citizens can go on speaking one language or six languages, or no languages if they so choose. Bilingualism is an imposition on the state and not the citizens.” quote by Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/pierre-trudeau-3495_bilingualism_bilingualism-is-not-an-imposition-on-the_2706920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/pierre-trudeau-3495_bilingualism_bilingualism-is-not-an-imposition-on-the_2706920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/pierre-trudeau-3495_bilingualism_bilingualism-is-not-an-imposition-on-the_2706920.png) > “Bilingualism is not an imposition on the citizens. The citizens can go on speaking one language or six languages, or no languages if they so choose. Bilingualism is an imposition on the state and not the citizens.” [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bilingualism imposes on the state, not on citizens; individuals choose how many languages to speak. **In simple terms:** State bears language policy burden. Key Takeaway Advocate for voluntary language policies. Themes language policy citizenship state authority Mood analytical balanced Type policy philosophical When to use this quote - education - government legislation - immigration integration - community programs Key Concepts sociolinguistics public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can policy respect both state and individual? - What benefits arise from multilingual societies? A Different Perspective Mandating languages can alienate minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bilingualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bilingualism/) [Bilingualism Imposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bilingualism-imposition-2776384/) [Choose Bilingualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-bilingualism-2776385/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Imposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposition/) [Imposition Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposition-citizens-2776386/) [Imposition State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposition-state-2776387/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [Bilingualism opens doors and provides opportunity to our children so they can shine and become successful in a labor market that is increasingly competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/bilingualism-opens-doors-and-provides-opportunity-to-our-children-so/) [Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/) > [“how bilingualism has been shown to benefit • bilingual children’s precocious knowledge of language, • their enhanced cognitive development in general, and • the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-zurer-pearson/how-bilingualism-has-been-shown-to-benefit-bilingual-children-s/) [Barbara Zurer Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-zurer-pearson/) > [As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/as-a-religion-bilingualism-is-the-god-that-failed-it-has-led-to-no/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/after-all-enforced-national-bilingualism-in-this-country-isn-t-mere-2/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [“There are those who eagerly learn another language to be one with another culture, then there are those morons who insist on the exclusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-those-who-eagerly-learn-another-language-to-be-one-with/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Bilingualism lets you have your cake and eat it. The new language opens the doors to the best jobs in society; the old language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/bilingualism-lets-you-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-the-new-language/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [Bilingualism used to have an undeservedly bad reputation; then it got an undeservedly exalted one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-gessen/bilingualism-used-to-have-an-undeservedly-bad-reputation-then-it-got/) [Keith Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-gessen/) > [Bilingualism is for me the fundamental problem of linguistics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/bilingualism-is-for-me-the-fundamental-problem-of-linguistics/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Bilingualism for the individual is fine, but not for a country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/bilingualism-for-the-individual-is-fine-but-not-for-a-country/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [We were doing the same thing. We will never have "a" Chicano English or Spanish because of regional differences. But I think that because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/we-were-doing-the-same-thing-we-will-never-have-a-chicano-english-or/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [Bilingualism is a great asset for any individual, but it has perilous consequences for a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/bilingualism-is-a-great-asset-for-any-individual-but-it-has-perilous/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/knowledge-of-languages-is-the-doorway-to-wisdom/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/after-all-enforced-national-bilingualism-in-this-country-isn-t-mere/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [“The virtually unanimous support of bilingualism among Hispanic activists, “leaders” and “spokesmen”—in contrast to Hispanic parents—is understandable only in terms of the self-interest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-virtually-unanimous-support-of-bilingualism-among-hispanic/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) ## More by Pierre Trudeau > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Obviously, the state's responsibility should be to legislate rules for a well-ordered society. It has no right or duty to creep into the bedrooms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/obviously-the-state-s-responsibility-should-be-to-legislate-rules-for/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [In specific terms I don't think I could make any suggestions, but in general terms I believe that it is because Canadians have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/in-specific-terms-i-don-t-think-i-could-make-any-suggestions-but-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I think that religions must seek peace and love and therefore be pacifist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-that-religions-must-seek-peace-and-love-and-therefore-be/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Freedom can flow from order. That is not to say that freedom always flows from order because you can have a totalitarian order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/freedom-can-flow-from-order-that-is-not-to-say-that-freedom-always/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Every time I have a political rally I meet some people who say, "I need a job."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/every-time-i-have-a-political-rally-i-meet-some-people-who-say-i-need/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I'm far from believing that we've solved the problem of violence in the 20th century and that's why I'm not discouraged that we still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-m-far-from-believing-that-we-ve-solved-the-problem-of-violence-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [The Jesuits were good educators, exceptional teachers. In an era and in a society where freedom of speech was not held in high regard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-jesuits-were-good-educators-exceptional-teachers-in-an-era-and-in/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Americans should never underestimate the constant pressure on Canada which the mere presence of the United States has produced. We're different people from you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/americans-should-never-underestimate-the-constant-pressure-on-canada/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I must say that "Give Peace a Chance" has always seemed to me to be sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-must-say-that-give-peace-a-chance-has-always-seemed-to-me-to-be/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. What's done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/there-s-no-place-for-the-state-in-the-bedrooms-of-the-nation-what-s/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I think all of us, politicians and churchmen, should do our utmost to change the society so that there would be no need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-all-of-us-politicians-and-churchmen-should-do-our-utmost-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [The Canadian community must invest, for the defence and better appreciation of the French language, as much time, energy, and money as are required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-canadian-community-must-invest-for-the-defence-and-better/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Perhaps the rediscovery of our humanity, and the potential of the human spirit which we have read about in legends of older civilizations, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/perhaps-the-rediscovery-of-our-humanity-and-the-potential-of-the/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) [Explore all 129 Pierre Trudeau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) ## More Bilingualism quotes > [“The virtually unanimous support of bilingualism among Hispanic activists, “leaders” and “spokesmen”—in contrast to Hispanic parents—is understandable only in terms of the self-interest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-virtually-unanimous-support-of-bilingualism-among-hispanic/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/after-all-enforced-national-bilingualism-in-this-country-isn-t-mere/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/knowledge-of-languages-is-the-doorway-to-wisdom/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Bilingualism is a great asset for any individual, but it has perilous consequences for a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/bilingualism-is-a-great-asset-for-any-individual-but-it-has-perilous/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [We were doing the same thing. We will never have "a" Chicano English or Spanish because of regional differences. But I think that because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/we-were-doing-the-same-thing-we-will-never-have-a-chicano-english-or/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [Bilingualism for the individual is fine, but not for a country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/bilingualism-for-the-individual-is-fine-but-not-for-a-country/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Bilingualism is for me the fundamental problem of linguistics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/bilingualism-is-for-me-the-fundamental-problem-of-linguistics/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Bilingualism used to have an undeservedly bad reputation; then it got an undeservedly exalted one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-gessen/bilingualism-used-to-have-an-undeservedly-bad-reputation-then-it-got/) [Keith Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-gessen/) > [Bilingualism lets you have your cake and eat it. The new language opens the doors to the best jobs in society; the old language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/bilingualism-lets-you-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-the-new-language/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [“There are those who eagerly learn another language to be one with another culture, then there are those morons who insist on the exclusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-those-who-eagerly-learn-another-language-to-be-one-with/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/after-all-enforced-national-bilingualism-in-this-country-isn-t-mere-2/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/as-a-religion-bilingualism-is-the-god-that-failed-it-has-led-to-no/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [“how bilingualism has been shown to benefit • bilingual children’s precocious knowledge of language, • their enhanced cognitive development in general, and • the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-zurer-pearson/how-bilingualism-has-been-shown-to-benefit-bilingual-children-s/) [Barbara Zurer Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-zurer-pearson/) > [Bilingualism opens doors and provides opportunity to our children so they can shine and become successful in a labor market that is increasingly competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/bilingualism-opens-doors-and-provides-opportunity-to-our-children-so/) [Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/) [Browse all 15 Bilingualism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bilingualism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bilingualism is not an imposition on the citizens. 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