If you need a little motivation as you learn a new language, be encouraged by the fact that many people have gone before you and have left behind their words of wisdom.
These quotes about learning English come from philosophers, writers, teachers, poets, and politicians who all understood the value of learning a second language.
So, enjoy these English learning quotes and we hope they give you the inspiration you need to continue on your language-learning journey!
Inspirational quotes about learning English and other languages
Quotes about the benefits of learning another language
With languages, you are at home anywhere.
Edmund De Waal
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
A different language is a different vision of life.
Federico Fellini
To have another language is to possess a second soul.
Charlemagne
You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.
Geoffrey Willans
One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.
Frank Smith
Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
These quotes about language learning all point toward the idea that speaking another language gives you a fresh perspective on life and opens up new opportunities in the world. It can also improve your understanding and appreciation of your native language.
Some English learning quotes even suggest that it can make you a different person, with a greater sense of belonging in the world.
Quotes about the English language
The English language is a work in progress. Have fun with it.
Jonathan Culver
Oh, God, I don’t know what’s more difficult, life or the English language.
Jonathan Ames
The English language is full of words that are just waiting to be misspelled, and the world is full of sticklers, ready to pounce.
Mary Norris
This English quote comes from an American author, so it’s reassuring to know that even she found it tricky to spell certain words.
To understand English is one thing; to understand an Englishman who talks is another.
Aleister Crowley
This funny quote about learning English makes the point that even if you understand English writing, the spoken language takes a different level of understanding thanks to the many different accents you will hear.
Inspiring quotes for English language learners
Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery.
Amy Chua
As you start learning English, you may be conscious of your accent and making pronunciation mistakes. Remember that it takes time to improve, and you have already taken the bravest and most important step of beginning to learn.
Don’t be afraid to make language mistakes; they’re the stepping stones on the path to linguistic brilliance.
Amanda Napitu
It is astonishing how much enjoyment one can get out of a language that one understands imperfectly.
Basil Lanneau Gildersleev
As you learn English, it may feel like you often make mistakes and you still have a long way to go. Be assured that this is part of the learning process, and you cannot learn everything all at once. Setting achievable mini-goals to learn English will help you stay focused on the road to fluency, however long it takes.
A foreign language is like a frail, delicate muscle. If you do not use it, it weakens.
Jhumpa Lahiri
It’s true that unless you keep using the English you have learned, it will start to fade from your mind. So, even if you have reached a level you feel happy with, make sure you continue to practice. Perhaps find a community of English speakers who you can meet with regularly.
I admire people who dare to take the language, English, and understand it and understand the melody.
Maya Angelou
We should learn languages because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly.
Kató Lomb
Learning English is not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar; it’s about gaining a new lens through which to see the world.
Amanda Napitu
Once you can communicate in English, you are able to explore and experience different cultures and learn from other non-native speakers.
One should not aim at being possible to understand but at being impossible to misunderstand.
Marcus Fabius Quintilian
This Roman educator recognized that although making yourself understood is one thing, it is better to communicate so well that you cannot be misunderstood. As you develop greater fluency, you will learn how to express yourself more clearly.
Quotes about the power of learning a new language
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.
Nelson Mandela
This quote about learning languages is actually a misquote from Nelson Mandela. Although it encapsulates the main idea of what he was saying, there may have been a deeper political meaning to his message.
The true power of language lies not in the words themselves but in the emotions and ideas they ignite within us.
Amanda Napitu
This quote about learning English reminds us that knowing the words of a language is one thing, but it’s only when you begin to understand the emotions and ideas they convey that you will unlock their full potential. Going beyond the basic meaning of words is one of our top tips to learn English.
A language is a living entity, evolving with every conversation, and those who embrace change will truly master it.
Unknown
Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.
Flora Lewis
A language is a bridge connecting two minds, enabling them to dance across cultures and embrace diversity.
Unknown
Do you ever feel like you have reached a dead-end with the language? Learning English is hard, but reading these quotes should help reignite your passion to learn. Speaking another language can change the way we think and connect us with people who come from different cultures all around the world.
Language is “the infinite use of finite means.”
Wilhelm von Humboldt
Although the number of English words you can learn is limited, the sentences and ideas you can form with those words are infinite.
More motivational learning quotes in English
Here are some more inspirational quotes for language learners – and, in fact, anyone learning anything new.
What we learn with pleasure, we never forget.
Alfred Mercier
He who laughs most, learns best.
John Cleese
These quotes about learning remind us that it should be fun. If you need to brighten up your studies, try some games for learning English.
Is it not enjoyable to learn and practise what you learn?
Confucius
If you’re feeling demotivated, try adopting this attitude from Chinese philosopher Confucius. Find pleasure in learning and improving your English as you practice each day.
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
Benjamin Franklin
We even have a quote about learning from one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. This one perfectly demonstrates how learning English through immersion is an excellent way to develop your language skills and feel more confident.
Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.
Sir Claus Moser
One of the benefits of learning English is that it opens up new opportunities for work. The time and money you invest in your English lessons will pay dividends later on.
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S.Lewis
The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.
Anthony Robbins
The expert in anything was once a beginner.
Helen Hayes
You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.
Richard Branson
There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born till the moment you die is a process of learning.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
All of these are good quotes for English learners who are discouraged because their progress is slow, or perhaps they just don’t know whether it’s worth learning a language at all.
Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.
Mark Twain
Sometimes you learn more through experience than you do from sitting in a classroom. Fortunately, there are many different ways to learn English outside the traditional classroom environment. Check out some of the best online English courses that let you learn at your own pace, wherever you like.
Tips for your English language learning journey
We hope these quotes will help give you the inspiration you need to continue and take your learning to the next level. Before you go, check out some more resources that could help you improve your English:
- Boost your language learning by listening to podcasts in English
- Discover some ways to make learning English easier
- Find out how you can learn English faster
