Notice the difference between what happens when a man says to himself, I have failed three times, and what happens when he says, I am a failure.

About S. I. Hayakawa

Samuel Ichiye Hayakawawas a Canadian-born American academic and politician of Japanese ancestry. A professor of English, he served as president of San Francisco State University and then as U.S. Senator from California from 1977 to 1983.

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More quotes from S. I. Hayakawa

In the age of television, image becomes more important than substance.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

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.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

So I will say it with relish. Give me a hamburger but hold the lawsuit.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

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

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

I’m going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

Notice the difference between what happens when a man says to himself, I have failed three times, and what happens when he says, I am a failure.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

It is the individual who knows how little they know about themselves who stands the most reasonable chance of finding out something about themselves before they die.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

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.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

If you see in any given situation only what everybody else can see, you can be said to be so much a representative of your culture that you are a victim of it.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)

You guys are both saying the same thing. The only reason you’re arguing is because you’re using different words.

S. I. Hayakawa

Canadian-American academic and politician (1906-1992)