That man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain
force upon the plain of Marathon, or read more

That man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain
force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow
warmer among the runs of Iona.

Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love
alike, and none less dear than read more

Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love
alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had
rather have eleven die nobly for their country than one
voluptuously surfeit out of action.

I wish I was in de land ob cotton,
Ole times dar am not forgotten,
Look-a-way! Look-a-way! read more

I wish I was in de land ob cotton,
Ole times dar am not forgotten,
Look-a-way! Look-a-way! Look-a-way, Dixie Land!
. . . .
Den I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand
To lib and die in Dixie.

Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native read more

Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land!

If you can't get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothes you tell them to wear, read more

If you can't get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothes you tell them to wear, how are you going to get them to die for their country?

Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing
but our country.
- Daniel read more

Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing
but our country.
- Daniel Webster,

One of the great attractions of patriotism - it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we read more

One of the great attractions of patriotism - it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what's more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.

And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
read more

And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?

The die was now cast; I had passed the Rubicon. Swim or sink,
live or die, survive or perish read more

The die was now cast; I had passed the Rubicon. Swim or sink,
live or die, survive or perish with my country was my unalterable
determination.