Patriotism

Nick Anderson

“It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind.”
Voltaire

“The feeling of patriotism - It is an immoral feeling because, instead of confessing himself a son of God . . . or even a free man guided by his own reason, each man under the influence of patriotism confesses himself the son of his fatherland and the slave of his government, and commits actions contrary to his reason and conscience.” and "“To abolish war it is necessary to abolish patriotism, and to abolish patriotism it is necessary first to understand that it is an evil. Tell people that patriotism is bad and most will reply, ‘Yes, bad patriotism is bad, but mine is good patriotism.’”
Leo Tolstoy

“One of the great attractions of patriotism—it fulfils 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.”
Aldous Huxley

“Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country.”
Bertrand Russell

“In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”
Mark Twain

"Heroism on command, senseless violence and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism.” Albert Einstein


and of course the all time classic:

"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel"
Samuel Johnson