Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The EU is joked about for having too many languages and no clear communication.
In plain terms
Europe has many people and languages but no one understands each other.
What can you take from it?
Linguistic diversity can complicate political unity.

Where it applies

  • political debates
  • international relations
  • travel

Putting it to work

  • seek common ground
  • simplify communication

Questions to consider

  • Is one language better for unity?
  • How to manage diversity?

Another view

The statement ignores official translations and bilingual efforts in the EU.

More from Eddie Izzard

  1. They set off from Plymouth and landed in Plymouth. How lucky is that? 'This is Plymouth? We've just come from Plymouth! We've gone round in a circle, guys, bac…

    Permalink to quote #29
  2. We had the Druids: long white robes, long white beards. Early transvestites, didn't get their shaving together.

    Permalink to quote #31
  3. Italy invented fascism. Mussolini in 1922 said 'Right, we're all fascists', but most Italian people are always on scooters, going, 'Ciao!'

    Permalink to quote #28

Related quotes

  1. I speak an open and disinterested language, dictated by no passion but that of humanity. To me, who have not only refused offers, because I thought them improp…

    Thomas PaineThomas Paine quote #1
  2. The politician is : trained in the art of inexactitude. His words tend to be blunt or rounded, because if they have a cutting edge they may later return to wou…

    Edward R. MurrowEdward R. Murrow quote #8
  3. I'm convinced there's a small room in the attic of the Foreign Office where future diplomats are taught to stammer.

    Peter UstinovPeter Ustinov quote #20