---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have room but for one Language here…"
description: "\"We have room but for one Language here and that is the English Language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans of Am..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg"
---

#  We have room but for one Language here and that is the…

![“We have room but for one Language here and that is the English Language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans of American nationality and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg)

> “We have room but for one Language here and that is the English Language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans of American nationality and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house.”

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

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

He advocates for linguistic unity, insisting English should dominate public life to forge a cohesive national identity.

**In simple terms:** English should be the sole public language for national unity.

Key Takeaway

Promote English as the common language.

Themes

nationalism language policy identity assimilation

Mood

author reflective

Type

political cultural.

When to use this quote

- education
- government
- media
- public discourse

Key Concepts

civic unity cultural integration

Questions to Reflect On

- How does language shape national identity?
- What are the costs of enforcing a single language?

A Different Perspective

May suppress linguistic diversity and minority cultures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Allegiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American english](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-english/) [Boarding house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boarding-house/) [Crucible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucible/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Polyglots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polyglots/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/)

## Related quotes

> [But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/but-this-is-predicated-upon-the-man-s-becoming-in-very-fact-an/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [“Broken polyglots are potent polyglots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/broken-polyglots-are-potent-polyglots/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [The Hellenistic world was international to a degree, polyglot and inspired by many religious faiths. ...the Greek ideals were pagan and the Hellenistic age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sarton/the-hellenistic-world-was-international-to-a-degree-polyglot-and/)

[George Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sarton/)

> [“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/)

> [“Reading a book in the foreign language without using a dictionary? Are you sceptical? Don’t be! This is one of the keys that opens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mih-ly-hevesi/reading-a-book-in-the-foreign-language-without-using-a-dictionary-are/)

Mihály Hevesi

> [“Why are there more male hyperpolyglots? One answer is that speaking a lot of languages is a geek macho thing (...) It seemed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-erard/why-are-there-more-male-hyperpolyglots-one-answer-is-that-speaking-a/)

[Michael Erard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-erard/)

> [It makes sense to me that the polyglot wouldn't know what language he dreamed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/it-makes-sense-to-me-that-the-polyglot-wouldn-t-know-what-language-he/)

[James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/)

> [“Sentiments speak louder than language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sentiments-speak-louder-than-language/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [I am simply a fairly typical product of a movable sensibility, living and working in a world that is itself increasingly small and increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/i-am-simply-a-fairly-typical-product-of-a-movable-sensibility-living/)

[Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/)

> [“Pop is about speaking everybody's language. The imagery and iconography we instantly recognize. When you can rely on things that the public already knows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-roque/pop-is-about-speaking-everybody-s-language-the-imagery-and/)

Nuno Roque

> [“Hometown Human Sonnet Everybody loves Rumi, I learnt his tongue, So I could pick up where he left off. Better than basking in borrowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/hometown-human-sonnet-everybody-loves-rumi-i-learnt-his-tongue-so-i/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“One small step towards a language is one giant leap towards inclusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/one-small-step-towards-a-language-is-one-giant-leap-towards-inclusion/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Polyglots have more fun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/polyglots-have-more-fun/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“One difference is that individuals living in multilingual communities seem to settle on an optimal cognitive load. The hyperpolyglot possesses a similar patchwork of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-erard/one-difference-is-that-individuals-living-in-multilingual-communities/)

[Michael Erard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-erard/)

> [“Learning a language is one of the tangible endeavors to help eliminate hate from the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/learning-a-language-is-one-of-the-tangible-endeavors-to-help/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

## More by Theodore Roosevelt

> [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

[Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## More Allegiance quotes

> [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/)

[Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/)

> [I was under the influence of the early modern masters, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck and Hemingway, especially, when I was a kid. I reacted against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-was-under-the-influence-of-the-early-modern-masters-fitzgerald-and/)

[Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/)

> [“The Pledge of Allegiance says 'liberty and justice for all'. Which part of 'all' don't you understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schroeder/the-pledge-of-allegiance-says-liberty-and-justice-for-all-which-part/)

Pat Schroeder

> [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayshay/there-is-a-congratulatory-culture-in-the-gulf-from-birth-onwards/)

Ayshay

> [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/)

[Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/)

> [In my imaginary utopian world there would be a greater allegiance between music writers and musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-my-imaginary-utopian-world-there-would-be-a-greater-allegiance/)

[Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/)

> [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

> [Let's do more than say the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Let us live it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/let-s-do-more-than-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance-let-us-live-it/)

[Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/)

> [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [“We're not to do everything man tells us to do. We are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and our allegiance to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/we-re-not-to-do-everything-man-tells-us-to-do-we-are-to-obey-the-lord/)

[Joseph C. Morecraft III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/)

> [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/)

[Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/)

> [Allegiance, after all, has to work two ways; and one can grow weary of an allegiance which is not reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegiance-after-all-has-to-work-two-ways-and-one-can-grow-weary-of/)

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

> [I think it is right for Canadians to be asked to show their faces when they're taking the oath. On revocation of citizenship, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-think-it-is-right-for-canadians-to-be-asked-to-show-their-faces/)

[Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/)

[Browse all 409 Allegiance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We have room but for one Language here and that is the English Language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans of American nationality and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Theodore Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-and-that-is-the-english/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Allegiance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-and-that-is-the-english/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/theodore-roosevelt-218_allegiance_we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-a_1708213.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have room but for one Language here and that is the English Language, for we intend to see that the…” — Theodore Roosevelt",
                "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": "Theodore Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We have room but for one...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-and-that-is-the-english/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-room-but-for-one-language-here-and-that-is-the-english/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
