---
title: "I make no pretension to patriotism. So long as my voice can be heard … — Frederick Douglass Quote #1 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "I make no pretension to patriotism. So long as my voice can be heard on this or the other side of the Atlantic, I will hold up America to the lightni… — a quote by Frederick Douglass."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # I make no pretension to patriotism. So long as my voice can be heard on this or the other side of the Atlantic, I will hold up America to the lightning scorn of moral indignation. In doing this, I shall feel myself discharging the duty of a true patriot; for he is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins. It is righteousness that exalteth a nation while sin is a reproach to any people.

[Frederick Douglass](https://quotesby.net/Frederick-Douglass)\#1[WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)](https://wa.me/?text=%E2%80%9CI%20make%20no%20pretension%20to%20patriotism.%20So%20long%20as%20my%20voice%20can%20be%20heard%20on%20this%20or%20the%20other%20side%20of%20the%20Atlantic%2C%20I%20will%20hold%20up%20America%20to%20the%20lightning%20scorn%20of%20moral%20indignation.%20In%20doing%20this%2C%20I%20shall%20feel%20myself%20discharging%20the%20duty%20of%20a%20true%20patriot%3B%20for%20he%20is%20a%20lover%20of%20his%20country%20who%20rebukes%20and%20does%20not%20excuse%20its%20sins.%20It%20is%20righteousness%20that%20exalteth%20a%20nation%20while%20sin%20is%20a%20reproach%20to%20any%20people.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20Frederick%20Douglass%20https%3A%2F%2Fquotesby.net%2FFrederick-Douglass%2F1%2F)[X (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CI%20make%20no%20pretension%20to%20patriotism.%20So%20long%20as%20my%20voice%20can%20be%20heard%20on%20this%20or%20the%20other%20side%20of%20the%20Atlantic%2C%20I%20will%20hold%20up%20America%20to%20the%20lightning%20scorn%20of%20moral%20indignation.%20In%20doing%20this%2C%20I%20shall%20feel%20myself%20discharging%20the%20duty%20of%20a%20true%20patriot%3B%20for%20he%20is%20a%20lover%20of%20his%20country%20who%20rebukes%20and%20does%20not%20excuse%20its%20sins.%20It%20is%20righteousness%20that%20exalteth%20a%20nation%20while%20sin%20is%20a%20reproach%20to%20any%20people.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20Frederick%20Douglass&url=https%3A%2F%2Fquotesby.net%2FFrederick-Douglass%2F1%2F)[Facebook (opens in a new tab)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fquotesby.net%2FFrederick-Douglass%2F1%2F)

## More from Frederick Douglass

1. > The ground which a colored man occupies in this country is, every inch of it, sternly disputed.

[Permalink to quote \#2](https://quotesby.net/Frederick-Douglass/2/ "Permalink to quote 2")
2. > I say nothing of father, for he is shrouded in a mystery I have never been able to penetrate. Slavery does away with fathers, as it does away with families. Sl…

[Permalink to quote \#3](https://quotesby.net/Frederick-Douglass/3/ "Permalink to quote 3")
3. > If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the …

[Permalink to quote \#4](https://quotesby.net/Frederick-Douglass/4/ "Permalink to quote 4")

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