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.

I am not a Virginian but an American.

I am not a Virginian but an American.

"My country, right or wrong," is a thing that no patriot would
think of saying except in a desperate read more

"My country, right or wrong," is a thing that no patriot would
think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying,
"My mother, drunk or sober."

Iraq is an unjust war.
(spoken on the Diane Rehm Show twice..
stated in articles written for NY Times.. printed
read more

Iraq is an unjust war.
(spoken on the Diane Rehm Show twice..
stated in articles written for NY Times.. printed
in USA Today).

Love of country is like love of woman--he loves her best who seeks to bestow on her the highest good.

Love of country is like love of woman--he loves her best who seeks to bestow on her the highest good.

Is it an offence, is it a mistake, is it a crime to take a
hopeful view of the read more

Is it an offence, is it a mistake, is it a crime to take a
hopeful view of the prospects of your own country? Why should it
be? Why should patriotism and pessimism be identical? Hope is
the mainspring of patriotism.

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?

Our native land charms us with inexpressible sweetness, and never
never allows us to forget that we belong to read more

Our native land charms us with inexpressible sweetness, and never
never allows us to forget that we belong to it.
[Lat., Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine captos
Ducit, et immemores non sinit esse sui.]

A healthy nation is as unconscious of its nationality as a
healthy man of his bones. But if you read more

A healthy nation is as unconscious of its nationality as a
healthy man of his bones. But if you break a nation's
nationality it will think of nothing else but getting it set
again.