Wilfrid Laurier

thumb| Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier GCMG, PC, KC (20 November 1841 – 17 February 1919) was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada, in office from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911. Quotes Whether splendidly isolated or dangerously isolated, I will not now debate; but for my part, I think splendidly isolated, because this isolation of England comes from her superiority. Speech in the Canadian House of Assembly (5 February 1896), as quoted in the NED, vol. 5 (1901), p. 508, s.v. 'Isolation'. Copied from the NED by Harry B. Polland in Notes and Queries, ser. 11, no. 128 (8 June 1912), p. 454. Also in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 224. See also: George Goschen About This was a leader who listened to all sides, perhaps too much. John Douglas Belshaw, Canadian History: Post-Confederation, ch. 4, pt. 7 It was Prime Minister Laurier who said of Canada's differing components: "I want the marble to remain the marble; I want the granite to remain the granite; I want the oak to remain the oak." This has been the Canadian way. As a result, Canadians have helped to teach the world, as Governor-General Massey once said, that the "toleration of differences is the measure of civilization." Today, more than ever before, we need to apply that understanding to the whole range of world affairs. And to begin with, we must apply it to our dealings with one another. Richard Nixon; Address to a Joint Meeting of the Canadian Parliament, The American Presidency Project, 14 April 1972 Misattributed First of all we must insist that the immigrant that comes here is willing to become a Canadian and is willing to assimilate our ways, he should be treated on equal grounds and it would be shameful to discriminate against such a person for reasons of their beliefs or the place of birth or origin. But it is the responsibility of that person to become a Canadian in all aspects of life, nothing else but a Canadian. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says that he is a Canadian, but tries to impose his customs and habits upon us, is not a Canadian. We have room for only one flag, the Canadian flag. There is room for only two languages here, English and French. And we have room for loyalty, but only one, loyalty to the Canadian people. We won’t accept anyone, I’m saying anyone, who will try to impose his religion or his customs on us. Allegedly said in 1907, according to Michael Eugenio, "Another gaffe by Trudeau", The Prince Arthur Herald (13 March 2013) · David Kendrick, "Canada is losing some of its identity", The Guelph Mercury (8 December 2015). Exposed as a misquotation based on on a Teddy Roosevelt letter, by Melissa Martin, "Moment of clarity in my Canada", Winnipeg Free Press (3 March 2017) External links Category:Prime Ministers of Canada Category:Leaders of the Official Opposition (Canada) Category:1841 births Category:1919 deaths Category:People from Quebec Category:Catholics from Canada Category:Liberals