"With the United States in slow long-term decline, how will that affect the position of English? And where will all that leave monolingual Britain? Our political leaders like to boast about how global Britain is, but when it comes to languages, it is near the bottom of the global league, together with another island state, Japan."

Life

Create & Download Quote Graphic

Customize Image

1. Canvas Aspect Ratio

2. Palette Theme

Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Life as articulated by Martin Jacques. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Life provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

Explore all Life quotes → Browse all wisdom by Martin Jacques →

About Martin Jacques

Martin Jacques is a British academic, journalist, political commentator and writer. He first came to prominence as the editor of Marxism Today, which under his leadership from 1977 to 1991 became an influential forum for political debate on the British left. He later co-founded the think tank Demos in 1993 and has written extensively as a columnist for major British newspapers including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Observer, The Guardian, and the New Statesman. Jacques is also known internationally for his 2009 book When China Rules the World, in which he argues that China's rise will reshape the global order and end Western hegemony over international affairs.

View all quotes by Martin Jacques →
Editorial Integrity: Curated and fact-checked under our Editorial Standards to eliminate misattributions and preserve historical authenticity.
Learn about our methodology →

More by Martin Jacques

"If anything, Brown is more oriented towards the other side of the Atlantic than Blair. Most of his reforming ideas and intellectual influences seem to come from the United States, and in a recent speech he went to great lengths to emphasise the historical affinity and shared characteristics of the U.K. and the U.S."

— Martin Jacques
Read more →

"In 1975, the Americans suffered a spectacular military defeat at the hands of North Vietnam and the Vietcong, with U.S. helicopters seeking to rescue leading U.S. personnel from the tops of buildings as Vietnamese guerrillas closed in on the centre of Saigon."

— Martin Jacques
Read more →

"If you are white, racism is too easily ignored and forgiven, regarded as of burning concern only to the ethnic minorities, and therefore of relatively marginal significance."

— Martin Jacques
Read more →

"After its defeat in the Second World War, Japan, unlike Germany, failed to show true contrition or give a fulsome apology, though it showered its neighbours, including China, with generous economic assistance. Only in 1995 did it finally offer an apology, but this was of the most limited and formulaic kind."

— Martin Jacques
Read more →

More about Life

"Wisdom principle 65 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 75."

— Sharon Baker
Read more →

"I quit after a bad car accident. The thing about boxing is that you can be a star for five or six years, but when you go back to the old life, it's tough."

— Olivier Martinez
Read more →

"Wisdom principle 89 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 61."

— Mark Anthony (writer)
Read more →

"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds. It will get you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be Revelation."

— Eileen Caddy
Read more →
Browse all Life quotes →