Here’s my list of the twelve best quotes for all levels when learning English. It’s a short, enjoyable, and enhancing way by which to improve one’s English skills in terms of the basic syntax and structure of the English language. It’s also good to become familiar with these well-known cultural references.
Beginner Level
1. “Practice makes perfect”
Meaning: If you keep practising something again and again, you will eventually become very good at it.
This quote involves a short simple structure, a memorable pithy statement, as well as everyday vocabulary. It also encourages learners to keep improving through repetition. It’s often said in daily conversation, so learners will be able to hear and use it naturally.
2. “Better late than never”
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than to not do it at all.
English learners will benefit from this one as it involves a common proverb that is used in everyday conversation. It can also help learners to better understand comparisons of the “X than Y” type. It demonstrates how the English language can compress meaning into short, rhythmic expressions. One will doubtless hear it mentioned in real contexts as it is useful for apologies, delays, and everyday speech.
3. “Honesty is the best policy”.
This quotation by Benjamin Franklin, the American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the American nation, has the meaning that “being honest is always the best choice”. It’s short and easy to remember. All five words are simple, common, and part of everyday vocabulary. This makes it perfect for learners to repeat, memorise and use. It has relevance in a school, business, or government environment.
Intermediate Level
4. “Actions speak louder than words.”
Meaning: What a person does is more important than what they say; that is to say that true intentions are shown through behaviour and not through promises.
The specific relevance to English learners is that it shows how English uses comparison for deeper meaning. It shows how the language expresses emphasis, as in “louder”, by using comparative adjectives. It is also great for intermediate learners to understand figurative speech. As it is common in real-life speech, learners can apply it in either their conversations or their writing.
5. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”.
Meaning: If you are determined enough, you can find a solution to almost any problem.
It relates to English learners as much as it encourages perseverance. The grammar structure is easy but carries a powerful meaning. It also teaches a conditional-style idea without a standard “if” and “would’ clause, which expands the learner’s understanding of syntax. The learner will hear it naturally as it often appears in everyday speech. The very simple vocabulary conveys a motivational message that will help make it memorable.
6. “You reap what you sow”.
Meaning: Your results depend on your actions.
This is a concise and well-known English proverb often used in an admonishing fashion. It’s helpful to English learners as it teaches common vocabulary (reap: to harvest crops and sow: to plant seeds). It also explains cause and effect as well as teaches a common British idiom. It is figurative by virtue of using the phrase as a metaphor and is an easy phrase to remember.
Intermediate to Advanced Level
7. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”
Meaning: It is fear that is often the biggest problem and not the situation itself, or in other words, if you let fear control you, it becomes more dangerous than the actual challenge.
This quote shows a good example of an elegant repetition and rhythm in English. It’s very good for advanced learners as they explore a rhetorical style with its emphatic structure and repetition.
8. “To be, or not to be, that is the question”
Meaning: The speaker, here, is wondering whether it is better to continue living or to stop living; in other words, he is questioning the meaning and value of life.
This quotation was said by Hamlet in Shakespeare’s famous tragic play of the same name. English learners will find it useful as it provides exposure to a classic English and literary rhythm. It also highlights how English can be employed to express philosophical or existential ideas. It’s also really important for learners of English to become acquainted with the most famous quotation delivered by the most famous English playwright.
9. “Be the change you wish to see in the world”
Meaning: If you want the world to improve, start by improving yourself; in other words don’t wait for others: take action personally.
This quotation is widely attributed to Gandhi, the Indian anti-colonial nationalist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule. It is helpful to English learners as it encourages the use of the imperative form (“Be…”) as well as an understanding of embedded clauses (“you wish to see”). It also gives them a good example of inspirational language.
Advanced Level
10. “The early bird catches the worm”
Meaning: People who start early or act quickly get the best opportunities or rewards.
This well-worn proverb will assist English learners as it introduces an idiom and teaches that being early or proactive leads to success. The English language is rich in idiomatic metaphorical language (interestingly derived mainly from the nautical world), although in this quotation, it uses animal-based sayings. Linguistically, it helps learners interpret nonliteral meanings which is a key skill.
11. “Rome wasn’t built in a day”
Meaning: Important or difficult things take time to complete, so you must be patient.
It is so vital for English learners to understand cultural references and fixed expressions. It offers exposure to the passive voice (“wasn’t built”), which is an important grammar structure. It helps learners understand references to history and Western culture. It also encourages learners to interpret beyond simple literal meanings.
12. “Don’t judge a book by its cover”
Meaning: Don’t make a decision about someone or something based only on appearance, or in other words, the outside doesn’t always show the truth inside.
It’s of benefit to English learners as an introduction to metaphorical thinking in English. It also introduces an imperative (“Don’t judge…”) and demonstrates figurative thinking as the saying is not actually about books, but about superficial judgments.
I hope you found this list of the 12 best quotes to learn English useful. Don’t hesitate to go out and practice them in everyday discussions with your native English friends or colleagues. And if you’d like to learn more expressions and improve your level of English overall with a native and experienced teacher, don’t hesitate to sign up for a free 30-minute trial lesson here.
Good luck to all of you English learners out there!
This article was written by BIE’s blog contributor Adam Jacot de Boinod.
