Patriots always talk of dying for their country, and never of killing for their country.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Patriots talk about dying for their country but never about killing for it.
- In plain terms
- People glorify sacrifice but ignore aggression.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize the double standard in patriotic rhetoric.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is killing omitted from patriotic narratives?
- How does this affect public perception of war?
Another view
Some may argue that killing is a necessary part of defense.
More from Bertrand Russell
This idea of weapons of mass extermination is utterly horrible and is something which no one with one spark of humanity can tolerate. I will not pretend to obe…
Permalink to quote #55 The fundamental defect of fathers is that they want their children to be a credit to them.
Permalink to quote #57 The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holder's lack of rational co…
Permalink to quote #54
Related quotes
'Patriotism, sir, is the last resort of scoundrels,' said Dr. Samuel Johnson. Leo Tolstoy, the greatest anti-patriot of our time, defines patriotism as the pri…
Emma GoldmanEmma Goldman quote #8 Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson quote #142 I know you are brave and unselfish people, making sacrifices for a great principle but I cannot join you. I believe in the present effort which the allies are …
Upton SinclairUpton Sinclair quote #3