S. I. Hayakawa People Quotations

Definitions, contrary to popular opinion, tell us nothing about things. They only describe people's linguistic habits; that is, they tell us what noises people make under what conditions.

The great thing about the United States is our ability to absorb foreign people and make them a part of us.

English, our common language, binds our diverse people.

Agreement is brought about by changing people's minds - other people's.

Language is a unifying instrument which binds people together. When people speak one language they become as one, they become a society.

In a very real sense, people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot or will not read.

Republicans are people who, if you were drowning 50 feet from shore, would throw you a 25-foot rope and tell you to swim the other 25 feet because it would be good for your character. Democrats would throw you a hundred-foot rope and then walk away looking for other good deeds to do.

In a real sense, people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot or will not read. It is not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish.