Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He sarcastically defines patriotism as a trait of the morally corrupt.
- In plain terms
- He says patriotism is a virtue of the vicious.
- What can you take from it?
- National loyalty can be misused.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What distinguishes healthy patriotism from toxic nationalism?
- How does satire affect political discourse?
Another view
Patriotism can also reflect genuine love for country.
More from Oscar Wilde
One of the requisites of sanity is to disagree with the majority of the British public.
Permalink to quote #239 Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
Permalink to quote #241 Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace.
Permalink to quote #238
Related quotes
Nationalism is our form of incest, is our idolatry, is our insanity. 'Patriotism' is its cult. It should hardly be necessary to say, that by 'patriotism' I mea…
Erich FrommErich Fromm quote #22 Patriots always talk of dying for their country, and never of killing for their country.
Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell quote #56 Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson quote #142