“True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.”
Patriotism at its best is love of country paired with the courage to make it better. These quotes explore national pride, civic duty, dissent, and the difference between blind loyalty and the kind of patriotism that demands accountability.
“Patriotism. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.”
“True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.”
“You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”
“Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.”
“There is a fuzzy but real distinction that can and I believe should be made, between patriotism, which is attachment to a way of life, and nationalism, which is the insistence that your way of life deserves to rule over other ways of life.”
“I do think the patriotic thing to do is to critique my country. How else do you make a country better but by pointing out its flaws?”
“The values, the programs, the formula, the determination, and the patriotism responsible for America's past success are still here to be tapped.”
“Each nation feels superior to other nations. That breeds patriotism - and wars.”
“Well, the post office is probably not the place you want to go if you want to be infused with patriotism and a renewed sense of vigor.”
“You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong no matter who does it or who says it.”
“The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.”
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”
“There is no patriotic obligation to help advance the career of a politician who is otherwise pursuing interests that are fundamentally antithetical to your values. That's not the call of patriotism.”
“No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.”
“Patriotism is best exemplified through auto-critique.”
“Some versions of patriotism come close to the tribal, which we all want to surpass, and some don't.”