Bobbie’s Bests for Less: 50% off handbags, skin care, more

  • TODAY Plaza
  • Share this —

Health & Wellness

  • Watch Full Episodes
  • Read With Jenna
  • Inspirational
  • Relationships
  • TODAY Table
  • Newsletters
  • Start TODAY
  • Shop TODAY Awards
  • Citi Concert Series
  • Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

  • On The Show

30 patriotic quotes that honor our country's legacy

Daughter embracing female U.S. soldier mother in front of home

In 1776, our founding fathers established life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as the foundational principles of American society.

That’s why we celebrate the day these rights were affirmed in the Declaration of Independence each year on the Fourth of July .

Thanks to the bravery and wisdom of our forefathers, America set itself apart as a country dedicated to a new concept of citizenship.

The U.S. Constitution enshrined our national duty to promote justice, peace, and equality. Throughout decades of war and conflict, Americans have fought tenaciously to preserve our national spirit, and each citizen participates in the process of forging our country’s unique identity.

Above all, our sense of collective loyalty , responsibility, and patriotism are central to the health of the country.

As President John F. Kennedy famously told his fellow Americans in his 1961 inaugural address, "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Before you turn on the grill for this year's Fourth of July festivities, take a moment to contemplate the hard work and sacrifice that American citizens have endured with these patriotic quotes from American leaders .

Patriotic quotes that celebrate America

  •  “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” — Nathan Hale
  • “I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” — Thomas Jefferson
  • “I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American!” — Daniel Webster
  • “No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life, in a great cause.” — Theodore Roosevelt
  • “Let me ask you, sir, when is the time for brave men to exert themselves in the cause of liberty and their country, if this is not?” — George Washington

Patriotic quotes

  • “True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and good will, and a constant and earnest striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
  • “The way to be patriotic in America is not only to love America, but to love the duty that lies nearest to our hand, and to know that in performing it we are serving our country.” — Woodrow Wilson
  • “A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle, and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.” — George William Curtis
  • “The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity — unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.” — Henry Clay
  • “The freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for comes with responsibilities as well as rights. And among those are love and charity and duty and patriotism.” — Barack Obama

Patriotic quotes

  • “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” — Benjamin Franklin
  • “Unless our conception of patriotism is progressive, it cannot hope to embody the real affection and the real interest of the nation.” — Jane Addams
  • “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
  • “A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” — Edward Abbey
  • “I see that the old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.” — Douglas MacArthur

Patriotic quotes

  • “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” — Thomas Jefferson
  • “A very few, as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men, serve the State with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated by it as enemies.” — Henry David Thoreau
  • “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” — Thomas Paine
  • “Only lay down true principles, and adhere to them inflexibly.” — Thomas Jefferson
  • “True patriots measure themselves not by personal wealth or power but by the degree to which they contribute to the community.” — Eric Liu

Patriotic quotes

  • “We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “It is not what we have that will make us a great nation; it is the way in which we use it.” — Theodore Roosevelt
  • “The great end of all human industry, is the attainment of happiness. For this were arts invented, sciences cultivated, laws ordained, and societies modelled, by the most profound wisdom of patriots and legislators.” — David Hume
  • “Someday, I hope that we will all be patriots of our planet and not just of our respective nations.” — Zoe Weil
  • “Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to an untiring effort.” — John F. Kennedy

Patriotic quotes

  • “It is the flag just as much of the man who was naturalized yesterday as of the man whose people have been here many generations.” — Henry Cabot Lodge
  • “The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “There is one thing that the American people always rise to and extend their hand to and that is the truth of justice, and of liberty, and of peace.” — Woodrow Wilson
  • “The essence of patriotism lies in a willingness to sacrifice for one’s country, just as true greatness finds expression, not in blessings enjoyed, but in good bestowed.” — William Jennings Bryan
  • “True patriotism, it seems to me, is based on tolerance and a large measure of humility.” — Adlai Stevenson II

More festive ways to celebrate our country

  • 55 inspiring 4th of July quotes to share on America's birthday
  • 20 easy 4th of July crafts that are full of stars and stripes
  • 30 patriotic songs to listen to during the 4th of July

quotes for essay patriotism

Associate Lifestyle Reporter

quotes for essay patriotism

80 best friend quotes that capture your unbreakable bond

quotes for essay patriotism

110 graduation quotes to send off the class of 2024 in style

quotes for essay patriotism

65 friendship quotes to show your closest pals some love

quotes for essay patriotism

The 138 best Mother's Day quotes to warm your mom's heart

quotes for essay patriotism

35 fatherhood quotes that honor the special role dads play

quotes for essay patriotism

75 powerful LGBTQ quotes for Pride Month and every month

quotes for essay patriotism

50 empowering Juneteenth quotes that honor the holiday

quotes for essay patriotism

50 stepdad quotes to remind him how much he's loved on Father's Day

quotes for essay patriotism

75 father-daughter quotes that express their unbreakable bond

quotes for essay patriotism

30 inspirational mom quotes to lift up all mothers

50 Patriotic Quotes on Being Devoted to One’s Country

Reading this list of patriotic quotes will inspire you to show loyalty and respect to your country!

One of the etymologies of the term “patriotism” is the Greek word “patriōtēs.” This Greek word combines two terms that mean “of one’s fathers” and “fatherland.” With that, patriotism can be defined as love and devotion to one’s country.

Though patriotism and nationalism are entirely different, many people mistakenly interchange them. Nationalism is defined as a people’s unity of culture—history, language, heritage, and more.

On the other hand, patriotism is primarily based on a people’s shared love and respect for their culture, values, and beliefs.

People might have different definitions, but the only thing that matters is how you show your patriotism to your country.

If you want to see how you can start being more of a patriot, read through the list below! Let our collection serve as your guide to learning how you can show your love for your nation.

Let’s begin!

And don’t miss out these America quotes and 4th of July quotes .

Best Patriotic Quotes

1. “We will stand by the right, we will stand by the true, we will live, we will die for the red, white, and blue.” – Anonymous

2. “In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” – Barack Obama

3. “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” – Adlai Stevenson II

4. “True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom, and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and goodwill, and a constant striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

5. “When a whole nation is roaring patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and the purity of its heart.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. “A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” – Edward Abbey

7. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy

8. “I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.” – Theodore Roosevelt

9. “Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” – Gen. Douglas Macarthur

10. “The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth.” – Stonewall Jackson

Patriotic Quotes to Show People’s Strong Love for Their Nation

11. “I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” – James Baldwin

12. “The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of the official policy, but a love of one’s country deep enough to call her to a higher plain.” – George McGovern

13. “Patriotism is voluntary. It is a feeling of loyalty and allegiance that is the result of knowledge and belief. A patriot shows their patriotism through their actions, by their choice.” – Jesse Ventura

14. “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” – Abraham Lincoln

15. “One cannot be an American by going about saying that one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, loves America, and then work.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

16. “Patriotism is the love of the country. But you can’t love your country without loving your countrymen and countrywomen. We don’t always have to agree, but we must empower each other, we must find the common ground, we must build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good.” – Cory Booker

17. “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, and cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches, or its romance.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Also read: Flag Day Quotes , Memorial Day Quotes

Short Patriotic Quotes

18. “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” – Howard Zinn 

19. “I think patriotism is like charity—it begins at home.” – Henry James

20. “My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue.” – Anonymous

21. “Patriotism was a living fire of unquestioned belief and purpose.” – Frank Knox

22. “True patriotism is better than the wrong kind of piety.” – Abraham Lincoln

23. “Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.” – John Adams

24. “Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.” – Mark Twain

Also read: Short Quotes , Freedom Quotes

Patriotic Quotes That’ll Give You a Glimpse of One’s Morals

25. “Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it’s wrong.” – Ron Paul

26. “It’s not unpatriotic to denounce an injustice committed on our behalf, perhaps it’s the most patriotic thing we can do.” – E.A. Bucchianeri

27. “True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.” – Clarence Darrow

28. “True patriotism isn’t cheap. It’s about taking on a fair share of the burden of keeping America going.” – Robert Reich

29. “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.” – Malcolm X

30. “To be a patriot, one had to say, and keep on saying, ‘Our country, right or wrong,’ and urge on the little war. Have you not perceived that that phrase is an insult to the nation?” – Mark Twain

31. “Patriotic talk is no proof of patriotism. Anyone can wave a flag. The real patriot lives his patriotism in everything he does.” – John M. Devine

32. “True patriotism is not worship of our nation but rather, in the light of our worship of the God of justice, to conform our nation’s ways of justice.” – Robert McAfee Brown

33. “I think there are few things more patriotic than taking the time to make your country a better place.” – Michael Moore

34. “If you’re patriotic, stand up for the Bill of Rights because once they strip your rights from you, you will pay hell to get them back. You will and we’re in the process of it right now.” – Jesse Ventura

Also read: Veterans Day Quotes , Liberty Quotes

Patriotic Quotes for Those Who Want to Serve Their Country

35. “My country owes me nothing. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, the opportunity for service and honor.” – Herbert Hoover

36. “So, let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look over not only ourselves but each other.” – Barack Obama

37. “Our responsibility as citizens is to address the inequalities and injustices that linger, and we must secure our birthright freedoms for all people.” – Barack Obama

38. “I focus on doing my duty within the bounds of the U.S. Constitution and my conscience. As long as I’m doing my job, I don’t worry about much else.” – John M. Vermillion

Patriotic Quotes That’ll Leave a Mark on Your Mind

39. “There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag.” – Jesse Ventura

40. “Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.” – Calvin Coolidge

41. “The American patriots of today continue the tradition of the long line of patriots before them, by helping to promote liberty and freedom around the world.” – John Linder

Deep Patriotic Quotes to Think About

42. “Patriotism demands the ability to feel shame as much as to feel pride.” – Anne-Marie Slaughter

43. “They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.” – Ernest Hemingway

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

45. “True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them the desire to do right is precisely the same.” – Robert E. Lee

More Patriotic Quotes to Provide You With Important Lessons

46. “A real patriot is a fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works.” – William E. Vaughan

47. “My loyalties will not be bound by national borders, or confined in time by one nation’s history, or limited in the spiritual dimension by one language and culture. I pledge my allegiance to the damned human race, and my everlasting love to the green hills of Earth, and my intimations of glory to the singing stars, to the very end of space and time.” – Edward Abbey

48. “My kind of loyalty was loyalty to one’s country, not to its institutions or its officeholders. The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, cease to protect the body from winter, disease, and death.” – Mark Twain

49. “The job facing American voters in the days and years to come is to determine which hearts, minds, and souls command those qualities best suited to unify a country rather than further divide it, to heal the wounds of a nation as opposed to aggravating its injuries, and to secure for the next generation a legacy of choices based on informed awareness rather than one of the reactions based on unknowing fear.” – Aberjhani

50. “What we need most right now, at this moment, is a kind of patriotic grace—a grace that takes the long view, apprehends the moment we’re in, comes up with ways of dealing with it, and eschews the politically cheap and manipulative. That admits affection and respect. That encourages them. That acknowledges that the small things that divide us are not worthy of the moment; that agrees that the things that can be done to ease the stresses we feel as a nation should be encouraged, while those that encourage our cohesion as a nation should be supported.” – Peggy Noonan

Did This Collection Make You Understand the Essence of Being Patriotic?

There are certain times of the year when patriotism is especially relevant. Holidays and events like Independence Day or Memorial Day are some examples. As patriots, we can reflect on what it means to love our country during these occasions.

However, these aren’t the only days we should show our patriotism. Remember that one can act like a patriot in even the smallest actions of their everyday lives.

For example, some might want to become veterans and people willing to risk their lives for our country. Others might prefer to use their right to vote to elect the best representative to serve our people and create a better future for everyone.

These are just a few of the many ways that we can show our patriotism for our country. Remember, it doesn’t matter what methods you show your patriotism. The most important thing is to show respect, honor, and appreciation for our homeland.

With that, we hope this list of patriotic quotes was able to give you some tips on how you can become more patriotic. Don’t forget that whether you live in America or any other country, you are blessed with incredible opportunities and freedom!

  • 60 America Quotes for the People of This Great Nation
  • 40 Volunteer Quotes That’ll Inspire You to Serve
  • 60 American Dream Quotes to Rekindle Your Hope

quotes for essay patriotism

Karen Danao

Hi, I’m Karen , a content curator and writer for Quote Ambition; I’m also a marketing and advertising professional. Beyond the keyboard and the screen, I’m someone who’s out to enjoy every bit that life has to offer!

Poetry, philosophy, history, and movies are all topics I love writing about! However, my true passion is in traveling, photography, and finding common ground to which everyone from different cultures can relate.

With the many places I’ve been to, I found that love, inspiration, and happiness are some things that bring people together. No matter how different we are on the outside, I’m a true believer that our emotions don’t lie; if you dig deep into our psyche, we’re all the same inside.

This belief was further amplified when I joined Quote Ambition. Through the quotes I’ve read, collected, organized, and written about, I found that humans are resilient, creative, and compassionate.

We take from each others’ hearts and courage, and it’s through our individual experiences that we learn how to rise above our challenges and pain. In so many ways, Quote Ambition is a platform that allows people from all over the world to gain the inspiration they need anytime, anywhere!

You can find me on MuckRack and LinkedIn .

quotes for essay patriotism

46 Best Patriotic Quotes That Complement Your American Pride

“America means opportunity, freedom, power.” 🇺🇸

patriotic quotes

Here, you'll find a quote for just about every mood and occasion, including simple one-liners like Christopher Gadsden's words: “What I can do for my country, I am willing to do.” There are also longer verses with a little more to unpack like this quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt about freedom: “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” Thrown into the mix are a few unexpected Fourth of July quotes and Memorial Day quotes about patriotism by household names, like these words from John Adams: “It will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”

Whether you're on the hunt for a patriotic Instagram caption or a pride-filled message to text to a friend who you're proud of, you're bound to find it here.

Eleanor Roosevelt

best patriotic quotes

“True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth.”

Sgt. Major Bill Paxton

best patriotic quotes

“May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn’t free.”

Gerald Stanley Lee

best patriotic quotes

“America is a tune. It must be sung together.”

best patriotic quotes

“I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism.”

Frederick Douglass

best patriotic quotes

“The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.”

Christopher Gadsden

best patriotic quotes

“What I can do for my country, I am willing to do.”

Douglas MacArthur

best patriotic quotes

“Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.”

best patriotic quotes

“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.”

Peter Marshall

best patriotic quotes

“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

best patriotic quotes

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.”

Mac Thornberry

best patriotic quotes thornberry

“No other date on the calendar more potently symbolizes all that our nation stands for than the Fourth of July.”

Barack Obama

best patriotic quotes obama

“In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

best patriotic quotes emerson

“America means opportunity, freedom, power.”

Kahlil Gibran

best patriotic quotes gibran

“Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.”

Daniel Webster

best patriotic quotes webster

“Independence now and forever!”

Wendell L. Wilkie

best patriotic quotes wilkie

“I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true.”

J.S.B. Morse

best patriotic quotes morse

“I don't believe in the constitution because I'm American. I'm American because I believe in the constitution.”

best patriotic quotes adams

“It will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”

Aung San Suu Kyi

best patriotic quotes san suu kyi

“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”

Thomas Wolfe

best patriotic quotes

“America. It is the only place where miracles not only happen, but where they happen all the time.”

Headshot of Josiah Soto

Josiah Soto is the assistant editor of news and social for The Pioneer Woman. He helps manage the website’s social channels, in addition to writing high-performing news and entertainment content daily. 

preview for Watch Our Latest Recipe Videos

.css-l114lb:before{background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:contain;background-size:contain;content:'';display:block;margin:auto auto 0.25rem;}.loaded .css-l114lb:before{background-image:url('/_assets/design-tokens/thepioneerwoman/static/images/butterfly.svg');}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-l114lb:before{width:2.039rem;height:1.616rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-l114lb:before{width:2.5rem;height:1.9rem;}} Fourth of July

4th of july wreaths

The Cutest Outfits to Wear This 4th of July

4th of july breakfast

20 Tasty 4th of July Breakfast Recipes

4th of july appetizers

Get the Party Started With 4th of July Appetizers

fourth of july desserts

40 Star-Spangled Desserts for the 4th of July

a group of glasses with liquid in them and a bowl of berries

Homemade Blueberry Lemonade Is So Refreshing

how to fold the american flag

How to Fold an American Flag the Proper Way

is walmart open on july 4th

Will Walmart Be Open on the 4th of July?

starbucks fourth of july hours

Is Starbucks Open On the 4th of July?

july 4th trivia facts

Quiz Yourself With These 4th of July Trivia Facts

costco 4th of july hours

Is Costco Open On the 4th of July in 2024?

lowes 4th of july hours

Here Are Lowe's 4th of July Hours in 2024

PATRIOTISM QUOTES

quotations about patriotism

Patriotism is a thing of the heart. A man is a patriot if his heart beats true to his country.

"Ethical Aspects of Conscription and the War"

Patriotism is one of the unalterable facts of man's nature. It is a virtue if you like it, and a vice if you don't like it.

"What Shall We Do With Patriotism?"

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson

Tags: Samuel Johnson

Patriotism is the admission that people who share a land, a place, and a history have a special obligation to that place and to each other.

Becoming Good Ancestors

What a strange development of patriotism that turns a thinking being into a loyal machine!

"Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty", Anarchism and Other Essays

Tags: Emma Goldman

Those who love their country never wish to rule it.

Unmoral Maxims

Tags: Abraham Miller

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 says it.

speech, January 7, 1965

Tags: Malcolm X

Patriotism ... is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit.

Anarchism and Other Essays

Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

attributed, The Bertrand Russell Society Quarterly

Tags: Bertrand Russell

Patriotism is a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood and narrows the mind.

often falsely attributed to Julius Caesar

Tags: Anonymous quotes

Take patriotism away, and the nation's soul has fled.

Holy Days and Holidays

We're being sold a brand new idea of patriotism. It never occurred to me that patriotism had to be advertised. Patriotism is something you deeply felt. You didn't have to wear it on your lapel or show it in your window or on a bumper sticker. That kind of patriotism does not appeal to me at all.

The Village Voice , November 12, 2004

Tags: Sam Shepard

Patriotism is not the same as nationalism, because love of country is not the same as worship of country.

"Do you know the difference between being an American and being a Christian?", Baptist News , March 31, 2016

Patriotism is merely a religion--love of country, worship of country, devotion to the country's flag and honor and welfare.

"As Regards Patriotism"

Tags: Mark Twain

The essence of patriotism is the sacrifice of personal interest to public welfare.

New Outlook , vol. 90

Patriotism: Your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.

The Public: A Journal of Democracy , 1910

Tags: George Bernard Shaw

Patriotism is the opposite of selfish individualism.

Patriotism is like religion--it is best when least ostentatious.

While patriotism is often lauded as an unquestionable value, the status of patriotism is a problem for many thoughtful people. It is particularly troublesome for people who care about the common good but are alienated by the all too frequent use of patriotism and patriotic symbols to stifle debate, tarnish the images of rival candidates, or arouse popular support for aggressive military policies.

introduction, Patriotism, Morality, and Peace

Patriotism is a lively sense of collective responsibility. Nationalism is a silly cock crowing on its own dunghill and calling for larger spurs and brighter beaks.

The Colonel's Daughter

Tags: Richard Aldington

Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Notable Quotes . All rights reserved. Browse by subject Browse by author

104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples

Welcome to our list of patriotism essay ideas! Choose among positive and negative topics on patriotism and make sure to check out our patriotism essay examples.

🔝 Top 10 Patriotism Essay Ideas to Write about

🏆 best patriotism topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting patriotism topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about patriotism, ❓ questions related to patriotism.

  • Patriotism and Global Citizenship
  • Traditional and Popular Patriotic Songs
  • Patriotism, Diversity, and Multiculturalism
  • Social Media’s Effect on National Sentiment
  • What Happens to Patriotism in Times of Crisis?
  • Does Patriotism Foster Civic Engagement?
  • The Line Between Patriotism and Nationalism
  • The Role of Literature, Music, and Art in Nation-Building
  • What’s the Connection Between Patriotism and Identity?
  • National Flags and Anthems as Expressions of Patriotism
  • Patriotism in the Modern World and Its Categories The other category is constructive or critical patriotism which is the belief that the best way to love one’s country is with constructive criticism of the government The constructive or critical patriotism leads me to […]
  • Poems comparing: Country Lovers and What It’s like to be a Black Girl In the poem, What it’s like to be a Black Girl, Smith explores the issue of racism in a jagged society.
  • Roman Patriotism in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” The gladiator Maximus, and the general in one person, embodies the greatest Roman patriotism, in the name of which he sacrifices his wife and son, loses his liberty and wastes his precious life.
  • Loyalty Imagery in “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima This highlights the theme of loyalty, as the soldiers are ready to obey orders well aware of the dangers involved. The author continues to explore the symbol of compliance and selflessness by explicating how soldiers […]
  • “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima Literature Analysis Nevertheless, the use of imagery to underscore the theme of devotion comes out clearly, as the story unfolds. In this case, the education edict comes out as an image, a controversial image for the author […]
  • Summary of the Movie “Patriot” by Roland Emmerich Therefore, the paper aims to summarize the plot and the characters of the film “Patriot” in the framework of those historical events.
  • Patriotism in Music of Lee Greenwood, Jean Sibelius, John Legend and Others The speed of the beat that is in this is sometimes slow and, at times, medium. Scale is a pattern of notes that makes the melody in a song familiar.
  • Patriotism in Music and Songs of America Patriotism can be defined as the attachment to a country and its core attributes, which does not always equal loyalty to the government or a sense of superiority.
  • The U.S. Patriot Act and Controversy The key components of the USA PATRIOT Act are characterized by a crosscutting reduction in the restrictions imposed on law enforcement entities curtailing their domain of influence in carrying out telephone, e-mail communication, medical and […]
  • A Critical Review of Nancy Ward: American Patriot or Cherokee Nationalist The article states that Nancy Ward’s actions come from her understanding of changes that Cherokee had to face, and her will to adapt to the changes rather than commit to American Patriotism or Cherokee nationalism.
  • “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima They worship photos of their “Imperial Majesties,” and each offers total allegiance to their respective gods: Shinji to the army, and Reiko to Shinji.
  • Blame Them if You Are a True Patriot If a citizen of any country speaks against the policies or actions of the country, especially when the nation is engaged in war, it appears to others as treason because it is assumed that the […]
  • “The Patriot” by Roland Emmerich Other aspects of social life, such as the number of children Ben had, the idea that the mother had died at a young age, the presence of black people working as servants and slaves, and […]
  • The Problem of Patriotism Analysis Thus, the era of social revolutions in Russian and their attempts in Europe was characterized by a critique of patriotism as it was defined in the liberal tradition.
  • Philosophy: Is Patriotism a Virtue? Hence, in the above context, patriotism is the feeling that arises from the concerns of the safety of the people of a nation.
  • The Phenomenon of Patriotism in the Context of the U.S. War of Independence It is important to consider the phenomenon of patriotism in the context of the US War of Independence. Exploring the reasons for the victory of the American revolution, which led to the formation of the […]
  • Adolf Hitler: From Patriotism to Racism He was also forced to live and work in the city and it is was the cultural and social shock that he experienced as he transferred from the rural to the urban that changed the […]
  • Comparison and Contrasting: Country Lovers and Child of the Americas For instance, the first paragraph gives the picture of the environment or the setting of the story as a farm, which harbors two races blacks and whites.
  • Fake Democracy and Patriotism: “Give Me Liberty” by Naomi Wolf It also define the battle plan that the American citizens would use in ensuring that they fight back and regain back the rule of laws defined in the American constitution that enhance the liberty that […]
  • Comparison of Ethnicity and Racism in “Country Lovers” and “The Welcome Table” In both cases, the texts have devoted their concerns to the plight of a black female who is deposed off her meaning within the realms of the society.
  • The Question of Loyalty and Patriotism Considering the fact that the alien country, is where one lives and has accumulated most of her/his wealth, it becomes reasonable to show loyalty to the country though this action can also result into negatives […]
  • Notions of Community and Notions of Self in The Plague and Patriotism Rieux, though a competent doctor and essentially kind hearted, exhibits a slightly annoyed air during the early days of the plague, and as the disease wears on, this annoyance graduates to full blown resentment.”The whole […]
  • American Patriotism: Struggle for Independence The children’s’ efforts in the struggle for independence were greatly recognized and appreciated by the government which led to the introduction of classes on patriotism and nationalism.
  • Differences Between Nationalism and Patriotism-Which Is Better for Nation Building
  • Comparing Patriotism and Volunteerism in the Society
  • The American Revolution: Treason or Patriotism
  • United States Declaration of Independence and Patriotism
  • The Effects of Country of Origin Image and Patriotism on British Consumers’ Preference for Domestic and Imported Beef
  • An Analysis of the Patriotism of the Immigrants in the United States
  • An Argument Which Argues Whether Children Should Be Taught in Education to Be Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism
  • Patriotism Should Be Propagated In Singapore Schools
  • Patriotism and the Historical Inaccuracies in The Patriot, a Film by Roland Emmerich
  • The Subtle Use of Patriotism in the Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • Gandhi’s Views On Patriotism and One’s Love for Their Country
  • The European Charter – Between deep Diversity and Constitutional Patriotism
  • Patriotism And National Identity : A Symbol Of National Hero
  • U.S. Definition of Patriot and Patriotism
  • Japanese Culture vs. Chinese Culture: the Loss of Patriotism
  • Patriotism: American Identity Defined Through Opportunity, Hard Work, And Loyalty
  • Racism, Unprovoked Hatred and Misguided Patriotism in Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
  • American Patriotism: The Love for the Country
  • The Patriotism Of Despair By Serguei Alex Oushakine
  • The Influence of The Miracle on Ice Game in Changing the Public Attitude and Feelings of Patriotism in America
  • Preserving the American Idea of Patriotism
  • Economic Patriotism, the Clash of Capitalisms, and State Aid in the European Union
  • False Patriotism in America
  • Patriotism, Cosmopolitanism, Consumer Ethnocentrism and Purchase Behavior
  • The Consequences Of Patriotism As Moral Justification
  • Comparing Patriotism and Nationalism
  • The Representation of Patriotism and Militarism in the Drinking Fountain
  • The Different Versions of Our True Patriotism
  • Red White and Beer: a Rhetorical Analysis of America’s Retail Patriotism
  • The Relation Between Seppuku and Patriotism Within the Japanese Society
  • Is American Patriotism Also Blind Patriotism
  • The Birthplace of American Patriotism
  • Patriotism in United States After September 11th Incident
  • The Use of Media to Promote Unity and Patriotism in America
  • Is Patriotism a Byproduct of Fascism
  • The Idea of Freedom and Patriotism in America
  • Wanda Coleman, Colin Kaepernick, and The Refusal to Prioritize Patriotism Over Blackness
  • Patriotism, Preferences and Serendipity: Understanding the Adoption of the Defence Transfers Directive
  • The Policy Of Economic Nationalism: From Origins To New Variations Of Economic Patriotism
  • U.S. Patriotism: A Link to American Hatred. Politics in the Media
  • A Deeper Look at Patriotism, Conscience and the Mexican War
  • How Does Economic Patriotism Differ from Nationalism?
  • What Acts Promote Patriotism?
  • How Can a Teacher Show Patriotism in Education?
  • What Values Lead to Patriotism?
  • Does Patriotism Contribute to the Growth of a Nation?
  • What Is the Concept of Economic Patriotism?
  • How Are Terrorism, Patriotism, and the Farce of Loyalty Oaths Related to Each Other?
  • Why Is Patriotism an Important Value?
  • How Do You Demonstrate Patriotism?
  • What Is Patriotism in Core Values?
  • Should the Canadian Government Coordinate the Organization of Youth Groups That Would Encourage Patriotism?
  • Was the American Revolution a Treason or Patriotism?
  • How Does Promoting Patriotism Contribute to Economic Prosperity?
  • What Are the Positive Effects of Patriotism?
  • How Has Patriotism Changed Over the Centuries?
  • What Are the Main Types of Patriotism?
  • Did the First World War Change the Idea of War and Patriotism?
  • What Is the Relationship Between Seppuku and Patriotism in Japanese Society?
  • How Does Globalization Affect Patriotism?
  • What Is the Difference Between Nationalism and Patriotism, and Which Is Better for Nation Building?
  • How Is Patriotism, Bravery, and Freedom Described in the Book “Born on the Fourth of July”?
  • What Is Your Idea of Patriotism and Its Importance in Our Lives?
  • Should Teachers Emphasize Patriotism and Heroes?
  • What Are the Factors Affecting Patriotism?
  • How Can the American Idea of Patriotism Be Preserved?
  • What Does True Patriotism Mean to You?
  • How Important Is Patriotism for Young People?
  • What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader That Promote Patriotism?
  • Is It Important to Educate Patriotism in Elementary School?
  • What Does the Concept of Patriotism Mean to Mishima?
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 26). 104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/

"104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples'. 26 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

  • Freedom Topics
  • Immigration Titles
  • American Dream Research Topics
  • Conservatism Essay Titles
  • Nationalism Topics
  • Fascism Questions
  • US History Topics
  • Cultural Competence Research Topics

Essay on Patriotism for Students and Children

500+ words essay on patriotism.

Essay on Patriotism: Patriotism refers to the passionate love one has for their country. This virtue pushes to citizens of a country to work for their country selflessly and make it better. A truly developed country is made up of true patriots. In other words, patriotism means keeping the country’s interest first and then thinking about oneself. Patriotism can be specifically seen during times of war. Moreover, it helps in building the nation stronger. There are other significances of patriotism as well.

Essay on Patriotism

Significance of Patriotism

Usually, we refer to our country as our motherland. This further proves that we must have the same love for our country as we have for our mother. After all, our country is no less than a mother; it nurtures us and helps us grow. Everyone must possess the virtue of patriotism as it makes it better.

In addition, it also enhances the life quality of the citizens . It does that by making people work for the collective interest of the country. When everyone works for the betterment of the country, there would be no conflict of interest. Thus, a happier environment will prevail.

After that, peace and harmony will be maintained through patriotism. When the citizens have the spirit of brotherhood, they will support one another. Hence, it will make the country more harmonious.

In short, patriotism does have great importance in developing the country. It eliminates any selfish and harmful motives which in turn lessens corruption. Similarly, when the government becomes free of corruption , the country will develop faster.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Great Patriots of India

India has had a fair share of patriots from the very beginning. The struggle for independence gave birth to various patriots. These patriots have made a lot of sacrifices for the county to flourish and prosper. Their names have gone down in history and are still taken with respect and admiration. Some of the greatest patriots of India were Rani Lakshmi Bai, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and Maulana Azad.

quotes for essay patriotism

Rani Lakshmi Bai was one of the most famous patriots of the country. Her courage and bravery are still talked about. Her name always comes up in the revolt of 1857. She revolted against the British rule and to fight for independence. She gave her life fighting on the battlefield for our country.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh is another name that is synonymous with patriotism. He was determined to free India from the clutches of the British rule. He was a part of several freedom struggles. Similarly, he also started a revolution for the same. He dedicated his life to this mission and died as a martyr for the love of his country.

Maulana Azad was a true patriot. The first education minister of India played a great role in the freedom struggle. He traveled through cities and created awareness of the injustices by the British. He united people through his activism and led India to freedom.

In conclusion, these are just a few who were patriots of the country. They lived for their country and did not hesitate before devoting their lives to it. These names are shining examples for the generations to come. We must possess patriotism and work for our motherland to see it succeed.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Why is patriotism important?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Patriotism is important for the development of a country. It helps in nation-building and driving people to work for the betterment of the country. Furthermore, it fights corruption as well.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Name some of the patriots of India.”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”:”India has had a lot of true patriots, especially during the British reign. Some of the renowned ones were Rani Lakshmi Bai, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and Maulana Azad.”} }] }

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Travelling Essay
  • Picnic Essay
  • Our Country Essay
  • My Parents Essay
  • Essay on Favourite Personality
  • Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
  • Essay on Knowledge is Power
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on My Favourite Season
  • Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

  • Patriotism Essay

ffImage

Essay on Patriotism

Patriotism is more than just a word; it's a feeling that resides deep within the hearts of individuals who share a common bond with their country. In simple terms, patriotism is the love and devotion one has for their homeland. This essay explores the essence of patriotism, its significance in our daily lives, and how it contributes to the overall growth and prosperity of a nation.

Defining Patriotism

At its core, patriotism is about love and loyalty to one's country. It's the recognition of the values, culture, and shared history that bind people together. This sentiment is not limited to grand gestures or extraordinary acts; it often finds expression in simple, everyday actions that collectively contribute to the betterment of society.

Love for the Land

Patriotism begins with a genuine love for the land one calls home. It's about appreciating the natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and resources that make a country unique. Whether it's the rolling hills, expansive plains, or the sparkling waters that surround us, patriotism involves recognizing and cherishing the inherent beauty of our homeland.

Cultural Identity

A strong sense of patriotism is closely tied to cultural identity. It's the pride in the traditions, languages, and customs that have been passed down through generations. Embracing and celebrating cultural diversity fosters a sense of unity, enriching the fabric of the nation with a tapestry of different backgrounds and experiences.

Shared History

Patriotism is also rooted in a shared history that forms the foundation of a nation. Understanding the struggles, triumphs, and challenges faced by previous generations fosters a sense of continuity and responsibility. By acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who came before us, we honor their legacy and contribute to the ongoing narrative of our country.

Individual Responsibility and Civic Duty

One of the essential aspects of patriotism is the recognition of individual responsibility and civic duty. It's not just about enjoying the benefits of living in a particular country; it's about actively participating in its growth and development. This can range from voting in elections to volunteering in local communities, each act contributing to the collective well-being of the nation.

Patriotism in Daily Life

While grand displays of patriotism, such as national celebrations and parades, are noteworthy, it is in the small, everyday actions that the true essence of patriotism is often found. Acts of kindness, respect for fellow citizens, and a commitment to upholding shared values are all expressions of patriotism in daily life.

Respecting Differences

A patriotic individual understands the importance of unity in diversity. Respecting the differences among fellow citizens, whether they be cultural, religious, or ideological, is a testament to a mature and inclusive patriotism. It involves fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted, contributing to a stronger and more harmonious society.

Environmental Stewardship

Caring for the environment is another manifestation of patriotism. Recognizing that the health of the land directly impacts the well-being of its inhabitants, a patriotic person takes measures to protect and preserve natural resources. This can involve sustainable practices, conservation efforts, and a commitment to reducing one's ecological footprint.

Education and Knowledge

Promoting education and knowledge is a patriotic act that invests in the future of a nation. By valuing learning, supporting educational initiatives, and encouraging intellectual curiosity, individuals contribute to the development of a knowledgeable and skilled population. A well-educated society is better equipped to face challenges and drive innovation, ensuring the continued progress of the nation.

Economic Contribution

Contributing to the economic prosperity of the country is an integral part of patriotism. This involves not only being a responsible consumer but also actively participating in the workforce. Whether through entrepreneurship, hard work, or innovation, individuals play a crucial role in building a robust and thriving economy that benefits everyone.

National Pride and Unity

Patriotism fosters a sense of national pride and unity. This pride extends beyond individual accomplishments to a collective celebration of the achievements of the entire nation. It's about recognizing and highlighting what makes the country unique and exceptional, fostering a shared sense of identity that transcends individual differences.

Challenges and Criticisms

While patriotism is generally seen as a positive force, it is essential to acknowledge that blind nationalism and exclusionary practices can emerge if taken to extremes. A healthy patriotism embraces diversity and encourages open dialogue, recognizing that different perspectives contribute to the strength and resilience of a nation.

Patriotism: A Historical Perspective

An essay on patriotism seems incomplete without delving into the historical context, particularly the role of freedom fighters. They are the heroes of times when the quest for freedom ignited the spirits of individuals who sought independence in economic, social, political, and cultural aspects.

India's Patriots

The history of India’s freedom struggle shines through the immortal courage of heroic personalities like Veer Damodar Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and many more. These great patriots fought for the country and against the atrocities perpetrated on the countrymen.

Singing slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Jay Hind’, these patriots went to the cross for the country with a smile on their faces and pride in their hearts. A very inspiring quote by Swami Vivekanand, says, “Do you love the country? Then, come, let us struggle for higher and better things; look not back, no, not even if you see the dearest and nearest cry. Look no back, but forward!”

The gist of Swami Vivekanand’s thought is that when you have started your journey on the path of the country’s welfare, then there must not be any looking back. All you need is to create a list of the priority things that you want to do for your country. Once you accomplish one thing just move ahead with the next one. The slogans like Jai Hind or Bharat Mata ki Jai work as your motivation on the path of doing something for the country. So, are you prepared to do something special for the nation?

Patriotism in Different Roles

People express their patriotism in different ways and in different roles. Soldiers, scientists, doctors, politicians, and other citizens express their patriotism through their hard work in their profession.

Indian soldiers are role models for the youth of India. Highly scrupulous, positively secular, completely apolitical, with an ethos of working hard, simple needs and frugal habits, a soldier is the epitome of courage and unflinching devotion to the country.

Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission is one of the best examples of scientists' devotion toward the country. In the pandemic situation, the hardship of doctors and nurses proves their devotion towards their country.

Patriotism does not always mean that you have to sacrifice your life for your country; contributing good service towards the country and its people is also equivalent to your sacrifice.

Mathunny Mathews has set a great example of patriotism. Mathews was an Indian, a resident in Kuwait, and was one of the people credited with the safe airlift evacuation of about 1, 70,000 Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Only celebrating the flag hoisting ceremony on 15th August and 26th January, posing for photos with the flag, and posting on social media doesn’t imply that you are a true patriot. A real patriot is a person who has a true love for his country. He fights against the atrocities upon his countrymen by insiders or outsiders of the country.

Patriotism by Freedom Fighters

An essay on patriotism seems incomplete without the mention of freedom fighters. They are the heroes of the times when we all wanted to get freedom. We all need freedom in economic, social, political, and cultural aspects. These were the people who did not give a second thought before offering complete sacrifice to stay in a free country.

Patriotism is a simple yet profound celebration of love for our country. It encompasses a range of sentiments, from appreciation of the land and culture to a commitment to individual responsibility and civic duty. Patriotism is not a static concept; it evolves as societies grow and change. By embodying the principles of patriotism in our daily lives, we contribute to the collective well-being of our nation, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come. In the end, patriotism is about recognizing the beauty in our shared journey and working together to build a stronger, more united society. Explore the meaning of patriotism, its significance, and the diverse ways in which people express their love for their country. Learn about the role of patriotism in the lives of individuals, from freedom fighters to modern-day citizens, and understand how it contributes to the development of a nation.

arrow-right

FAQs on Patriotism Essay

1. How is patriotism important for a country?

Patriotism helps in promoting brotherhood and belongingness among the citizens of a country. Corruption takes a back seat when the feeling of fraternity exists among the citizens. Also, the love for one’s country creates a feeling of responsibility towards the countrymen and brings forth the best of their services, in various fields.

For example, when an IAS officer is a true patriot at heart, he will ensure that there is no corruption in his immediate system and best efforts are being delivered by his team. Similarly, doctors, soldiers, scientists, and people from every walk of life put their best efforts into serving their countrymen, when they have patriotism deep down in their hearts.

2. What are the important points to be written in an essay on patriotism?

The following outlines will help you write an essay on patriotism in your own words.

What is the meaning of patriotism in simple words?

How is patriotism different from nationalism?

Who were the great patriots of India?

Role of patriotic personalities in India’s freedom struggle.

Showcasing patriotism on Independence Day and Republic Day through social media posts is not always a sign of true patriotism.

How does patriotism play a role in the development of a nation?

These are the basic points for this essay topic, and you may add more examples of patriotic personalities and emphasize the role of patriotism in safeguarding the interests of a nation, in your essay, depending upon the required word count.

3. How can I express my patriotism?

There are many ways to express your patriotism. Some common examples include:

Participating in civic duties, such as voting and volunteering.

Obeying the law and respecting the national symbols.

Educating yourself about your country's history and culture.

Supporting your country's athletes and teams in international competitions.

Contributing to social causes and community development efforts.

4. Is patriotism the same as nationalism?

No, patriotism and nationalism are not the same. Patriotism is a positive feeling of love and pride for one's country, while nationalism can be a more extreme and exclusionary ideology that emphasizes the superiority of one's own nation over others.

5. Can patriotism be dangerous?

Yes, patriotism can be dangerous if it is used to justify harmful actions, such as discrimination against other countries or groups of people. It is important to remember that patriotism should be combined with other values, such as tolerance, respect for human rights, and a commitment to international cooperation.

6. What are some good examples of patriotism in history?

There are many examples of people who have expressed patriotism in positive ways throughout history. Some famous examples include:

Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for civil rights in the United States.

Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent resistance to British rule in India.

Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid in South Africa.

The volunteers who helped rebuild communities after natural disasters.

7. What are some common arguments against patriotism?

Some people argue that patriotism is outdated, irrelevant, or even harmful. Some common arguments against patriotism include:

It can be used to justify war and violence.

It can lead to blind obedience and a lack of critical thinking.

It can be used to exclude and discriminate against minority groups.

It can be a form of tribalism that creates divisions between people.

Charles de Gaulle: 'Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.'

Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.

In his famous quote, Charles de Gaulle beautifully captures the essence of patriotism and nationalism. He states that patriotism arises from a deep love and devotion towards one's own people, while nationalism stems from a destructive hatred towards those outside of one's own group. This thought-provoking quote reminds us of the importance of embracing love and unity over hate and division.Patriotism, as de Gaulle describes it, is an inherent admiration and loyalty towards one's own country and fellow citizens. It is the belief in the value and uniqueness of one's nation, culture, and heritage. A patriot is driven by a genuine desire to contribute to the progress and well-being of their own society. This love for one's own people fosters a sense of unity and solidarity, enabling individuals to work together towards common goals and overcome challenges as a collective.On the other hand, nationalism, as de Gaulle points out, is driven by a strong aversion and animosity towards people who do not belong to the same group. Nationalism often manifests as a sense of superiority and entitlement, leading to conflicts and tensions between different nations or ethnicities. It tends to encourage an "us versus them" mentality, where the welfare and interests of one's own people are prioritized at the expense of others. This narrow-mindedness can hinder progress and create rifts between nations, hindering cooperation and understanding.However, let us now introduce a surprising and thought-provoking philosophical concept: cosmopolitanism. Cosmopolitanism suggests that our loyalty should extend beyond our own nation or people. It is the idea that all individuals are citizens of the world and that we should prioritize human solidarity over nationalistic boundaries. While patriotism emphasizes love for one's own people, and nationalism promotes a fervent protectionism, cosmopolitanism invites us to consider the interconnectedness and interdependence of all humanity.In many ways, cosmopolitanism challenges the negative aspects of nationalism highlighted by de Gaulle. It encourages the recognition of our shared humanity, embracing diversity and promoting mutual respect. Cosmopolitans believe that by transcending narrow nationalistic perspectives, we can work together to address global challenges such as poverty, climate change, and social injustice.Yet, reconciling these different ideologies is not an easy task. The tension between patriotism, nationalism, and cosmopolitanism exposes the complexities of identity and belonging. It prompts us to question the boundaries we construct and the foundations on which our loyalties are built.While patriotism and nationalism can foster a sense of identity and belonging within a particular community, it is important to avoid falling into the trap of exclusive nationalism. Patriotism, when celebrated with a cosmopolitan mindset, can coexist with a genuine appreciation and respect for other cultures and nations. It becomes a force for unity and collaboration rather than division and hostility.In conclusion, Charles de Gaulle's quote serves as a profound reminder of the importance of prioritizing love over hate in our interactions with others. Patriotism, rooted in love for one's own people, should be celebrated in a way that promotes unity and understanding. By embracing the idea of cosmopolitanism, we can transcend nationalism's destructive tendencies and foster a more inclusive, compassionate world. Ultimately, it is through love, empathy, and a broad perspective that we can strive for a harmonious global community.

Charles de Gaulle: 'Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.'

Charles de gaulle: 'how can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese'.

  • About George Orwell
  • Partners and Sponsors
  • Accessibility
  • Upcoming events
  • The Orwell Festival
  • The Orwell Memorial Lectures
  • Books by Orwell
  • Essays and other works
  • Encountering Orwell
  • Orwell Live
  • About the prizes
  • Reporting Homelessness
  • Enter the Prizes
  • Previous winners
  • Orwell Fellows
  • Introduction
  • Enter the Prize
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Volunteering
  • About Feedback
  • Responding to Feedback
  • Start your journey
  • Inspiration
  • Find Your Form
  • Start Writing
  • Reading Recommendations
  • Previous themes
  • Our offer for teachers
  • Lesson Plans
  • Events and Workshops
  • Orwell in the Classroom
  • GCSE Practice Papers
  • The Orwell Youth Fellows
  • Paisley Workshops

The Orwell Foundation

  • The Orwell Prizes
  • The Orwell Youth Prize

Notes on Nationalism

This material remains under copyright in some jurisdictions, including the US, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of  the Orwell Estate . The Orwell Foundation is an independent charity – please consider making a donation or becoming a Friend of the Foundation to help us maintain these resources for readers everywhere. 

Somewhere or other Byron makes use of the French word longueur , and remarks in passing that though in England we happen not to have the word , we have the thing in considerable profusion. In the same way, there is a habit of mind which is now so widespread that it affects our thinking on nearly every subject, but which has not yet been given a name. As the nearest existing equivalent I have chosen the word ‘nationalism’, but it will be seen in a moment that I am not using it in quite the ordinary sense, if only because the emotion I am speaking about does not always attach itself to what is called a nation – that is, a single race or a geographical area. It can attach itself to a church or a class, or it may work in a merely negative sense, against something or other and without the need for any positive object of loyalty.

By ‘nationalism’ I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’. [1] But secondly ­– and this is much more important – I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.

So long as it is applied merely to the more notorious and identifiable nationalist movements in Germany, Japan, and other countries, all this is obvious enough. Confronted with a phenomenon like Nazism, which we can observe from the outside, nearly all of us would say much the same things about it. But here I must repeat what I said above, that I am only using the word ‘nationalism’ for lack of a better. Nationalism, in the extended sense in which I am using the word, includes such movements and tendencies as Communism, political Catholicism, Zionism, Antisemitism, Trotskyism and Pacifism. It does not necessarily mean loyalty to a government or a country, still less to one’s own country, and it is not even strictly necessary that the units in which it deals should actually exist. To name a few obvious examples, Jewry, Islam, Christendom, the Proletariat and the White Race are all of them objects of passionate nationalistic feeling: but their existence can be seriously questioned, and there is no definition of any one of them that would be universally accepted.

It is also worth emphasizing once again that nationalist feeling can be purely negative. There are, for example, Trotskyists who have become simply enemies of the U.S.S.R. without developing a corresponding loyalty to any other unit. When one grasps the implications of this, the nature of what I mean by nationalism becomes a good deal clearer. A nationalist is one who thinks solely, or mainly, in terms of competitive prestige. He may be a positive or a negative nationalist – that is, he may use his mental energy either in boosting or in denigrating – but at any rate his thoughts always turn on victories, defeats, triumphs and humiliations. He sees history, especially contemporary history, as the endless rise and decline of great power units, and every event that happens seems to him a demonstration that his own side is on the up-grade and some hated rival is on the down-grade. But finally, it is important not to confuse nationalism with mere worship of success. The nationalist does not go on the principle of simply ganging up with the strongest side. On the contrary, having picked his side, he persuades himself that it is the strongest, and is able to stick to his belief even when the facts are overwhelmingly against him. Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception. Every nationalist is capable of the most flagrant dishonesty, but he is also – since he is conscious of serving something bigger than himself – unshakeably certain of being in the right.

Now that I have given this lengthy definition, I think it will be admitted that the habit of mind I am talking about is widespread among the English intelligentsia, and more widespread there than among the mass of the people. For those who feel deeply about contemporary politics, certain topics have become so infected by considerations of prestige that a genuinely rational approach to them is almost impossible. Out of the hundreds of examples that one might choose, take this question: Which of the three great allies, the U.S.S.R., Britain and the U.S.A., has contributed most to the defeat of Germany? In theory it should be possible to give a reasoned and perhaps even a conclusive answer to this question. In practice, however, the necessary calculations cannot be made, because anyone likely to bother his head about such a question would inevitably see it in terms of competitive prestige. He would therefore start by deciding in favour of Russia, Britain or America as the case might be, and only after this would begin searching for arguments that seemed to support his case. And there are whole strings of kindred questions to which you can only get an honest answer from someone who is indifferent to the whole subject involved, and whose opinion on it is probably worthless in any case. Hence, partly, the remarkable failure in our time of political and military prediction. It is curious to reflect that out of all the ‘experts’ of all the schools, there was not a single one who was able to foresee so likely an event as the Russo-German Pact of 1939. [2] And when news of the Pact broke, the most wildly divergent explanations were of it were given, and predictions were made which were falsified almost immediately, being based in nearly every case not on a study of probabilities but on a desire to make the U.S.S.R. seem good or bad, strong or weak. Political or military commentators, like astrologers, can survive almost any mistake, because their more devoted followers do not look to them for an appraisal of the facts but for the stimulation of nationalistic loyalties. [3] And aesthetic judgements, especially literary judgements, are often corrupted in the same way as political ones. It would be difficult for an Indian nationalist to enjoy reading Kipling or for a Conservative to see merit in Mayakovsky, and there is always a temptation to claim that any book whose tendency one disagrees with must be a bad book from a literary point of view. People of strongly nationalistic outlook often perform this sleight of hand without being conscious of dishonesty.

In England, if one simply considers the number of people involved, it is probable that the dominant form of nationalism is old-fashioned British jingoism. It is certain that this is still widespread, and much more so than most observers would have believed a dozen years ago. However, in this essay I am concerned chiefly with the reactions of the intelligentsia, among whom jingoism and even patriotism of the old kind are almost dead, though they now seem to be reviving among a minority. Among the intelligentsia, it hardly needs saying that the dominant form of nationalism is Communism ­– using this word in a very loose sense, to include not merely Communist Party members but ‘fellow-travellers’ and russophiles generally. A Communist, for my purpose here, is one who looks upon the U.S.S.R. as his Fatherland and feels it his duty to justify Russian policy and advance Russian interests at all costs. Obviously such people abound in England today, and their direct and indirect influence is very great. But many other forms of nationalism also flourish, and it is by noticing the points of resemblance between different and even seemingly opposed currents of thought that one can best get the matter into perspective.

Ten or twenty years ago, the form of nationalism most closely corresponding to Communism today was political Catholicism. Its most outstanding exponent – though he was perhaps an extreme case rather than a typical one – was G. K. Chesterton. Chesterton was a writer of considerable talent who chose to suppress both his sensibilities and his intellectual honesty in the cause of Roman Catholic propaganda. During the last twenty years or so of his life, his entire output was in reality an endless repetition of the same thing, under its laboured cleverness as simple and boring as ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians’. Every book that he wrote, every paragraph, every sentence, every incident in every story, every scrap of dialogue, had to demonstrate beyond possibility of mistake the superiority of the Catholic over the Protestant or the pagan. But Chesterton was not content to think of this superiority as merely intellectual or spiritual: it had to be translated into terms of national prestige and military power, which entailed an ignorant idealization of the Latin countries, especially France. Chesterton had not lived long in France, and his picture of it – as a land of Catholic peasants incessantly singing the Marseillaise over glasses of red wine – had about as much relation to reality as Chu Chin Chow has to everyday life in Baghdad. And with this went not only an enormous over-estimation of French military power (both before and after 1914-18 he maintained that France, by itself, was stronger than Germany), but a silly and vulgar glorification of the actual process of war. Chesterton’s battle poems, such as ‘Lepanto’ or ‘The Ballad of Saint Barbara’, make ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ read like a pacifist tract: they are perhaps the most tawdry bits of bombast to be found in our language. The interesting thing is that had the romantic rubbish which he habitually wrote about France and the French army been written by somebody else about Britain and the British army, he would have been the first to jeer. In home politics he was a Little Englander, a true hater of jingoism and imperialism, and according to his lights a true friend of democracy. Yet when he looked outwards into the international field, he could forsake his principles without even noticing he was doing so. Thus, his almost mystical belief in the virtues of democracy did not prevent him from admiring Mussolini. Mussolini had destroyed the representative government and the freedom of the press for which Chesterton had struggled so hard at home, but Mussolini was an Italian and had made Italy strong, and that settled the matter. Nor did Chesterton ever find a word to say about imperialism and the conquest of coloured races when they were practised by Italians or Frenchmen. His hold on reality, his literary taste, and even to some extent his moral sense, were dislocated as soon as his nationalistic loyalties were involved.

Obviously there are considerable resemblances between political Catholicism, as exemplified by Chesterton, and Communism. So there are between either of these and for instance Scottish nationalism, Zionism, Antisemitism or Trotskyism. It would be an oversimplification to say that all forms of nationalism are the same, even in their mental atmosphere, but there are certain rules that hold good in all cases. The following are the principal characteristics of nationalist thought:

Obsession. As nearly as possible, no nationalist ever thinks, talks, or writes about anything except the superiority of his own power unit. It is difficult if not impossible for any nationalist to conceal his allegiance. The smallest slur upon his own unit, or any implied praise of a rival organization, fills him with uneasiness which he can only relieve by making some sharp retort. If the chosen unit is an actual country, such as Ireland or India, he will generally claim superiority for it not only in military power and political virtue, but in art, literature, sport, structure of the language, the physical beauty of the inhabitants, and perhaps even in climate, scenery and cooking. He will show great sensitiveness about such things as the correct display of flags, relative size of headlines and the order in which different countries are named. [4] Nomenclature plays a very important part in nationalist thought. Countries which have won their independence or gone through a nationalist revolution usually change their names, and any country or other unit round which strong feelings revolve is likely to have several names, each of them carrying a different implication. The two sides of the Spanish Civil War had between them nine or ten names expressing different degrees of love and hatred. Some of these names (e.g. ‘Patriots’ for Franco-supporters, or ‘Loyalists’ for Government-supporters) were frankly question-begging, and there was no single one of them which the two rival factions could have agreed to use. All nationalists consider it a duty to spread their own language to the detriment of rival languages, and among English-speakers this struggle reappears in subtler form as a struggle between dialects. Anglophobe Americans will refuse to use a slang phrase if they know it to be of British origin, and the conflict between Latinizers and Germanizers often has nationalist motives behind it. Scottish nationalists insist on the superiority of Lowland Scots, and Socialists whose nationalism takes the form of class hatred tirade against the B.B.C. accent and even the broad A. One could multiply instances. Nationalist thought often gives the impression of being tinged by belief in sympathetic magic – a belief which probably comes out in the widespread custom of burning political enemies in effigy, or using pictures of them as targets in shooting galleries.

Instability. The intensity with which they are held does not prevent nationalist loyalties from being transferable. To begin with, as I have pointed out already, they can be and often are fastened upon some foreign country. One quite commonly finds that great national leaders, or the founders of nationalist movements, do not even belong to the country they have glorified. Sometimes they are outright foreigners, or more often they come from peripheral areas where nationality is doubtful. Examples are Stalin, Hitler, Napoleon, de Valera, Disraeli, Poincaré, Beaverbrook. The Pan-German movement was in part the creation of an Englishman, Houston Chamberlain. For the past fifty or a hundred years, transferred nationalism has been a common phenomenon among literary intellectuals. With Lafcadio Hearne the transference was to Japan, with Carlyle and many others of his time to Germany, and in our own age it is usually to Russia. But the peculiarly interesting fact is that re -transference is also possible. A country or other unit which has been worshipped for years may suddenly become detestable, and some other object of affection may take its place with almost no interval. In the first version of H. G. Wells’s Outline of History , and others of his writings about that time, one finds the United States praised almost as extravagantly as Russia is praised by Communists today: yet within a few years this uncritical admiration had turned into hostility. The bigoted Communist who changes in a space of weeks, or even of days, into an equally bigoted Trotskyist is a common spectacle. In continental Europe Fascist movements were largely recruited from among Communists, and the opposite process may well happen within the next few years. What remains constant in the nationalist is his own state of mind: the object of his feelings is changeable, and may be imaginary.

But for an intellectual, transference has an important function which I have already mentioned shortly in connection with Chesterton. It makes it possible for him to be much more nationalistic – more vulgar, more silly, more malignant, more dishonest – than he could ever be on behalf of his native country, or any unit of which he had real knowledge. When one sees the slavish or boastful rubbish that is written about Stalin, the Red army, etc. by fairly intelligent and sensitive people, one realizes that this is only possible because some kind of dislocation has taken place. In societies such as ours, it is unusual for anyone describable as an intellectual to feel a very deep attachment to his own country. Public opinion – that is, the section of public opinion of which he as an intellectual is aware – will not allow him to do so. Most of the people surrounding him are sceptical and disaffected, and he may adopt the same attitude from imitativeness or sheer cowardice: in that case he will have abandoned the form of nationalism that lies nearest to hand without getting any closer to a genuinely internationalist outlook. He still feels the need for a Fatherland, and it is natural to look for one somewhere abroad. Having found it, he can wallow unrestrainedly in exactly those emotions from which he believes that he has emancipated himself. God, the King, the Empire, the Union Jack – all the overthrown idols can reappear under different names, and because they are not recognized for what they are they can be worshipped with a good conscience. Transferred nationalism, like the use of scapegoats, is a way of attaining salvation without altering one’s conduct.

Indifference to Reality. All nationalists have the power of not seeing resemblances between similar sets of facts. A British Tory will defend self-determination in Europe and oppose it in India with no feeling of inconsistency. Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage – torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians – which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by ‘our’ side. The Liberal News Chronicle published, as an example of shocking barbarity, photographs of Russians hanged by the Germans, and then a year or two later published with warm approval almost exactly similar photographs of Germans hanged by the Russians. [5] It is the same with historical events. History is thought of largely in nationalist terms, and such things as the Inquisition, the tortures of the Star Chamber, the exploits of the English buccaneers (Sir Francis Drake, for instance, who was given to sinking Spanish prisoners alive), the Reign of Terror, the heroes of the Mutiny blowing hundreds of Indians from the guns, or Cromwell’s soldiers slashing Irishwomen’s faces with razors, become morally neutral or even meritorious when it is felt that they were done in the ‘right’ cause. If one looks back over the past quarter of a century, one finds that there was hardly a single year when atrocity stories were not being reported from some part of the world: and yet in not one single case were these atrocities – in Spain, Russia, China, Hungary, Mexico, Amritsar, Smyrna – believed in and disapproved of by the English intelligentsia as a whole. Whether such deeds were reprehensible, or even whether they happened, was always decided according to political predilection.

The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them. For quite six years the English admirers of Hitler contrived not to learn of the existence of Dachau and Buchenwald. And those who are loudest in denouncing the German concentration camps are often quite unaware, or only very dimly aware, that there are also concentration camps in Russia. Huge events like the Ukraine famine of 1933, involving the deaths of millions of people, have actually escaped the attention of the majority of English russophiles. Many English people have heard almost nothing about the extermination of German and Polish Jews during the present war. Their own antisemitism has caused this vast crime to bounce off their consciousness. In nationalist thought there are facts which are both true and untrue, known and unknown. A known fact may be so unbearable that it is habitually pushed aside and not allowed to enter into logical processes, or on the other hand it may enter into every calculation and yet never be admitted as a fact, even in one’s own mind.

Every nationalist is haunted by the belief that the past can be altered. He spends part of his time in a fantasy world in which things happen as they should – in which, for example, the Spanish Armada was a success or the Russian Revolution was crushed in 1918 – and he will transfer fragments of this world to the history books whenever possible. Much of the propagandist writing of our time amounts to plain forgery. Material facts are suppressed, dates altered, quotations removed from their context and doctored so as to change their meaning. Events which, it is felt, ought not to have happened are left unmentioned and ultimately denied. [6] In 1927 Chiang Kai-Shek boiled hundreds of Communists alive, and yet within ten years he had become one of the heroes of the Left. The re-alignment of world politics had brought him into the anti-Fascist camp, and so it was felt that the boiling of the Communists ‘didn’t count’, or perhaps had not happened. The primary aim of propaganda is, of course, to influence contemporary opinion, but those who rewrite history do probably believe with part of their minds that they are actually thrusting facts into the past. When one considers the elaborate forgeries that have been committed in order to show that Trotsky did not play a valuable part in the Russian civil war, it is difficult to feel that the people responsible are merely lying. More probably they feel that their own version was what happened in the sight of God, and that one is justified in rearranging the records accordingly.

Indifference to objective truth is encouraged by the sealing-off of one part of the world from another, which makes it harder and harder to discover what is actually happening. There can often be a genuine doubt about the most enormous events. For example, it is impossible to calculate within millions, perhaps even tens of millions, the number of deaths caused by the present war. The calamities that are constantly being reported – battles, massacres, famines, revolutions – tend to inspire in the average person a feeling of unreality. One has no way of verifying the facts, one is not even fully certain that they have happened, and one is always presented with totally different interpretations from different sources. What were the rights and wrongs of the Warsaw rising of August 1944? Is it true about the German gas ovens in Poland? Who was really to blame for the Bengal famine? Probably the truth is discoverable, but the facts will be so dishonestly set forth in almost any newspaper that the ordinary reader can be forgiven either for swallowing lies or failing to form an opinion. The general uncertainty as to what is really happening makes it easier to cling to lunatic beliefs. Since nothing is ever quite proved or disproved, the most unmistakable fact can be impudently denied. Moreover, although endlessly brooding on power, victory, defeat, revenge, the nationalist is often somewhat uninterested in what happens in the real world. What he wants is to feel that his own unit is getting the better of some other unit, and he can more easily do this by scoring off an adversary than by examining the facts to see whether they support him. All nationalist controversy is at the debating-society level. It is always entirely inconclusive, since each contestant invariably believes himself to have won the victory. Some nationalists are not far from schizophrenia, living quite happily amid dreams of power and conquest which have no connexion with the physical world.

I have examined as best as I can the mental habits which are common to all forms of nationalism. The next thing is to classify those forms, but obviously this cannot be done comprehensively. Nationalism is an enormous subject. The world is tormented by innumerable delusions and hatreds which cut across one another in an extremely complex way, and some of the most sinister of them have not yet impinged on the European consciousness. In this essay I am concerned with nationalism as it occurs among the English intelligentsia. In them, much more than in ordinary English people, it is unmixed with patriotism and can therefore can be studied pure. Below are listed the varieties of nationalism now flourishing among English intellectuals, with such comments as seem to be needed. It is convenient to use three headings, Positive, Transferred and Negative, though some varieties will fit into more than one category:

Positive Nationalism

1. Neo-Toryism. Exemplified by such people as Lord Elton, A. P. Herbert, G. M. Young, Professor Pickthorn, by the literature of the Tory Reform Committee, and by such magazines as the New English Review and the Nineteenth Century and After . The real motive force of neo-Toryism, giving it its nationalistic character and differentiating it from ordinary Conservatism, is the desire not to recognize that British power and influence have declined. Even those who are realistic enough to see that Britain’s military position is not what it was, tend to claim that ‘English ideas’ (usually left undefined) must dominate the world. All neo-Tories are anti-Russian, but sometimes the main emphasis is anti-American. The significant thing is that this school of thought seems to be gaining ground among youngish intellectual, sometimes ex-Communists, who have passed through the usual process of disillusionment and become disillusioned with that. The anglophobe who suddenly becomes violently pro-British is a fairly common figure. Writers who illustrate this tendency are F. A. Voigt, Malcolm Muggeridge, Evelyn Waugh, Hugh Kingsmill, and a psychologically similar development can be observed in T. S. Eliot, Wyndham Lewis, and various of their followers.

2. Celtic Nationalism. Welsh, Irish and Scottish nationalism have points of difference but are alike in their anti-English orientation. Members of all three movements have opposed the war while continuing to describe themselves as pro-Russian, and the lunatic fringe has even contrived to be simultaneously pro-Russian and pro-Nazi. But Celtic nationalism is not the same thing as anglophobia. Its motive force is a belief in the past and future greatness of the Celtic peoples, and it has a strong tinge of racialism. The Celt is supposed to be spiritually superior to the Saxon – simpler, more creative, less vulgar, less snobbish, etc. – but the usual power hunger is there under the surface. One symptom of it is the delusion that Eire, Scotland or even Wales could preserve its independence unaided and owes nothing to British protection. Among writers, good examples of this school of thought are Hugh McDiarmid and Sean O’Casey. No modern Irish writer, even of the stature of Yeats or Joyce, is completely free from traces of nationalism.

3. Zionism. This has the unusual characteristics of a nationalist movement, but the American variant of it seems to be more violent and malignant than the British. I classify it under Direct and not Transferred nationalism because it flourishes almost exclusively among the Jews themselves. In England, for several rather incongruous reasons, the intelligentsia are mostly pro-Jew on the Palestine issue, but they do not feel strongly about it. All English people of goodwill are also pro-Jew in the sense of disapproving of Nazi persecution. But any actual nationalistic loyalty, or belief in the innate superiority of Jews, is hardly to be found among Gentiles:

Transferred Nationalism

1. Communism

2. Political Catholicism

3. Colour Feeling. The old-style contemptuous attitude towards ‘natives’ has been much weakened in England, and various pseudo-scientific theories emphasizing the superiority of the white race have been abandoned. [7] Among the intelligentsia, colour feeling only occurs in the transposed form, that is, as a belief in the innate superiority of the coloured races. This is now increasingly common among English intellectuals, probably resulting more often from masochism and sexual frustration than from contact with the Oriental and Negro nationalist movements. Even among those who do not feel strongly on the colour question, snobbery and imitation have a powerful influence. Almost any English intellectual would be scandalized by the claim that the white races are superior to the coloured, whereas the opposite claim would seem to him unexceptionable even if he disagreed with it. Nationalistic attachment to the coloured races is usually mixed up with the belief that their sex lives are superior, and there is a large underground mythology about the sexual prowess of Negroes.

4. Class Feeling. Among upper-class and middle-class intellectuals, only in the transposed form – i.e. as a belief in the superiority of the proletariat. Here again, inside the intelligentsia, the pressure of public opinion is overwhelming. Nationalistic loyalty towards the proletariat, and most vicious theoretical hatred of the bourgeoisie, can and often do co-exist with ordinary snobbishness in everyday life.

5. Pacifism. The majority of pacifists either belong to obscure religious sects or are simply humanitarians who object to the taking of life and prefer not to follow their thoughts beyond that point. But there is a minority of intellectual pacifists whose real though unadmitted motive appears to be hatred of western democracy and admiration of totalitarianism. Pacifist propaganda usually boils down to saying that one side is as bad as the other, but if one looks closely at the writings of younger intellectual pacifists, one finds that they do not by any means express impartial disapproval but are directed almost entirely against Britain and the United States. Moreover they do not as a rule condemn violence as such, but only violence used in defence of the western countries. The Russians, unlike the British, are not blamed for defending themselves by warlike means, and indeed all pacifist propaganda of this type avoids mention of Russia or China. It is not claimed, again, that the Indians should abjure violence in their struggle against the British. Pacifist literature abounds with equivocal remarks which, if they mean anything, appear to mean that statesmen of the type of Hitler are preferable to those of the type of Churchill, and that violence is perhaps excusable if it is violent enough. After the fall of France, the French pacifists, faced by a real choice which their English colleagues have not had to make, mostly went over to the Nazis, and in England there appears to have been some small overlap of membership between the Peace Pledge Union and the Blackshirts. Pacifist writers have written in praise of Carlyle, one of the intellectual fathers of Fascism. All in all it is difficult not to feel that pacifism, as it appears among a section of the intelligentsia, is secretly inspired by an admiration for power and successful cruelty. The mistake was made of pinning this emotion to Hitler, but it could easily be retransferred.

Negative Nationalism

1. Anglophobia. Within the intelligentsia, a derisive and mildly hostile attitude towards Britain is more or less compulsory, but it is an unfaked emotion in many cases. During the war it was manifested in the defeatism of the intelligentsia, which persisted long after it had become clear that the Axis powers could not win. Many people were undisguisedly pleased when Singapore fell or when the British were driven out of Greece, and there was a remarkable unwillingness to believe in good news, e.g. el Alamein, or the number of German planes shot down in the Battle of Britain. English left-wing intellectuals did not, of course, actually want the Germans or Japanese to win the war, but many of them could not help getting a certain kick out of seeing their own country humiliated, and wanted to feel that the final victory would be due to Russia, or perhaps America, and not to Britain. In foreign politics many intellectuals follow the principle that any faction backed by Britain must be in the wrong. As a result, ‘enlightened’ opinion is quite largely a mirror-image of Conservative policy. Anglophobia is always liable to reversal, hence that fairly common spectacle, the pacifist of one war who is a bellicist in the next.

2. Anti-Semitism. There is little evidence about this at present, because the Nazi persecutions have made it necessary for any thinking person to side with the Jews against their oppressors. Anyone educated enough to have heard the word ‘antisemitism’ claims as a matter of course to be free of it, and anti-Jewish remarks are carefully eliminated from all classes of literature. Actually, antisemitism appears to be widespread, even among intellectuals, and the general conspiracy of silence probably helps exacerbate it. People of Left opinions are not immune to it, and their attitude is sometimes affected by the fact that Trotskyists and Anarchists tend to be Jews. But antisemitism comes more naturally to people of Conservative tendency, who suspect Jews of weakening national morale and diluting the national culture. Neo-Tories and political Catholics are always liable to succumb to antisemitism, at least intermittently.

3. Trotskyism. This word is used so loosely as to include Anarchists, democratic Socialists and even Liberals. I use it here to mean a doctrinaire Marxist whose main motive is hostility to the Stalin régime. Trotskyism can be better studied in obscure pamphlets or in papers like the Socialist Appeal than in the works of Trotsky himself, who was by no means a man of one idea. Although in some places, for instance in the United States, Trotskyism is able to attract a fairly large number of adherents and develop into an organized movement with a petty fuehrer of its own, its inspiration is essentially negative. The Trotskyist is against Stalin just as the Communist is for him, and, like the majority of Communists, he wants not so much to alter the external world as to feel that the battle for prestige is going in his own favour. In each case there is the same obsessive fixation on a single subject, the same inability to form a genuinely rational opinion based on probabilities. The fact that Trotskyists are everywhere a persecuted minority, and that the accusation usually made against them, i.e. of collaborating with the Fascists, is absolutely false, creates an impression that Trotskyism is intellectually and morally superior to Communism; but it is doubtful whether there is much difference. The most typical Trotskyists, in any case, are ex-Communists, and no one arrives at Trotskyism except via one of the left-wing movements. No Communist, unless tethered to his party by years of habit, is secure against a sudden lapse into Trotskyism. The opposite process does not seem to happen equally often, though there is no clear reason why it should not.

In the classification I have attempted above, it will seem that I have often exaggerated, oversimplified, made unwarranted assumptions and have left out of account the existence of ordinarily decent motives. This was inevitable, because in this essay I am trying to isolate and identify tendencies which exist in all our minds and pervert our thinking, without necessarily occurring in a pure state or operating continuously. It is important at this point to correct the over-simplified picture which I have been obliged to make. To begin with, one has no right to assume that everyone , or even every intellectual, is infected by nationalism. Secondly, nationalism can be intermittent and limited. An intelligent man may half-succumb to a belief which attracts him but which he knows to be absurd, and he may keep it out of his mind for long periods, only reverting to it in moments of anger or sentimentality, or when he is certain that no important issues are involved. Thirdly, a nationalistic creed may be adopted in good faith from non-nationalistic motives. Fourthly, several kinds of nationalism, even kinds that cancel out, can co-exist in the same person.

All the way through I have said, ‘the nationalist does this’ or ‘the nationalist does that’, using for purposes of illustration the extreme, barely sane type of nationalist who has no neutral areas in his mind and no interest in anything except the struggle for power. Actually such people are fairly common, but they are not worth the powder and shot. In real life Lord Elton, D. N. Pritt, Lady Houston, Ezra Pound, Lord Vanisttart, Father Coughlin and all the rest of their dreary tribe have to be fought against, but their intellectual deficiencies hardly need pointing out. Monomania is not interesting, and the fact that no nationalist of the more bigoted kind can write a book which still seems worth reading after a lapse of years has a certain deodorizing effect. But when one has admitted that nationalism has not triumphed everywhere, that there are still people whose judgements are not at the mercy of their desires, the fact does remain that the pressing problems – India, Poland, Palestine, the Spanish Civil War, the Moscow trials, the American Negroes, the Russo-German Pact or what have you – cannot be, or at least never are, discussed upon a reasonable level. The Eltons and Pritts and Coughlins, each of them simply an enormous mouth bellowing the same lie over and over again, are obviously extreme cases, but we deceive ourselves if we do not realize that we can all resemble them in unguarded moments. Let a certain note be struck, let this or that corn be trodden on – and it may be a corn whose very existence has been unsuspected hitherto — and the most fair-minded and sweet-tempered person may suddenly be transformed into a vicious partisan, anxious only to ‘score’ over his adversary and indifferent as to how many lies he tells or how many logical errors he commits in doing so. When Lloyd George, who was an opponent of the Boer War, announced in the House of Commons that the British communiqués, if one added them together, claimed the killing of more Boers than the whole Boer nation contained, it is recorded that Arthur Balfour rose to his feet and shouted ‘Cad!’ Very few people are proof against lapses of this type. The Negro snubbed by a white woman, the Englishman who hears England ignorantly criticized by an American, the Catholic apologist reminded of the Spanish Armada, will all react in much the same way. One prod to the nerve of nationalism, and the intellectual decencies can vanish, the past can be altered, and the plainest facts can be denied.

If one harbours anywhere in one’s mind a nationalistic loyalty or hatred, certain facts, although in a sense known to be true, are inadmissible. Here are just a few examples. I list below five types of nationalist, and against each I append a fact which it is impossible for that type of nationalist to accept, even in his secret thoughts:

British Tory:  Britain will come out of this war with reduced power and prestige.

Communist:  If she had not been aided by Britain and America, Russia would have been defeated by Germany.

Irish Nationalist:  Eire can only remain independent because of British protection.

Trotskyist:  The Stalin régime is accepted by the Russian masses.

Pacifist:  Those who ‘abjure’ violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.

All of these facts are grossly obvious if one’s emotions do not happen to be involved: but to the kind of person named in each case they are also intolerable , and so they have to be denied, and false theories constructed upon their denial. I come back to the astonishing failure of military prediction in the present war. It is, I think, true to say that the intelligentsia have been more wrong about the progress of the war than the common people, and that they were more swayed by partisan feelings. The average intellectual of the Left believed, for instance, that the war was lost in 1940, that the Germans were bound to overrun Egypt in 1942, that the Japanese would never be driven out of the lands they had conquered, and that the Anglo-American bombing offensive was making no impression on Germany. He could believe these things because his hatred for the British ruling class forbade him to admit that British plans could succeed. There is no limit to the follies that can be swallowed if one is under the influence of feelings of this kind. I have heard it confidently stated, for instance, that the American troops had been brought to Europe not to fight the Germans but to crush an English revolution. One has to belong to the intelligentsia to believe things like that: no ordinary man could be such a fool. When Hitler invaded Russia, the officials of the M.O.I. issued ‘as background’ a warning that Russia might be expected to collapse in six weeks. On the other hand the Communists regarded every phase of the war as a Russian victory, even when the Russians were driven back almost to the Caspian Sea and had lost several million prisoners. There is no need to multiply instances. The point is that as soon as fear, hatred, jealousy and power worship are involved, the sense of reality becomes unhinged. And, as I have pointed out already, the sense of right and wrong becomes unhinged also. There is no crime, absolutely none, that cannot be condoned when ‘our’ side commits it. Even if one does not deny that the crime has happened, even if one knows that it is exactly the same crime as one has condemned in some other case, even if one admits in an intellectual sense that it is unjustified – still one cannot feel that it is wrong. Loyalty is involved, and so pity ceases to function.

The reason for the rise and spread of nationalism is far too big a question to be raised here. It is enough to say that, in the forms in which it appears among English intellectuals, it is a distorted reflection of the frightful battles actually happening in the external world, and that its worst follies have been made possible by the breakdown of patriotism and religious belief. If one follows up this train of thought, one is in danger of being led into a species of Conservatism, or into political quietism. It can be plausibly argued, for instance – it is even probably true – that patriotism is an inoculation against nationalism, that monarchy is a guard against dictatorship, and that organized religion is a guard against superstition. Or again, it can be argued that no unbiased outlook is possible, that all creeds and causes involve the same lies, follies, and barbarities; and this is often advanced as a reason for keeping out of politics altogether. I do not accept this argument, if only because in the modern world no one describable as an intellectual can keep out of politics in the sense of not caring about them. I think one must engage in politics – using the word in a wide sense – and that one must have preferences: that is, one must recognize that some causes are objectively better than others, even if they are advanced by equally bad means. As for the nationalistic loves and hatreds that I have spoken of, they are part of the make-up of most of us, whether we like it or not. Whether it is possible to get rid of them I do not know, but I do believe that it is possible to struggle against them, and that this is essentially a moral effort. It is a question first of all of discovering what one really is, what one’s own feelings really are, and then of making allowance for the inevitable bias. If you hate and fear Russia, if you are jealous of the wealth and power of America, if you despise Jews, if you have a sentiment of inferiority towards the British ruling class, you cannot get rid of those feelings simply by taking thought. But you can at least recognize that you have them, and prevent them from contaminating your mental processes. The emotional urges which are inescapable, and are perhaps even necessary to political action, should be able to exist side by side with an acceptance of reality. But this, I repeat, needs a moral effort, and contemporary English literature, so far as it is alive at all to the major issues of our time, shows how few of us are prepared to make it.

Author’s Notes

Polemic , GB – London, 1945

This material remains under copyright in some jurisdictions, including the US, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the Orwell Estate .

  • 2023 Theme - Lesson Plans and Activities for Teachers
  • Become a Friend
  • Become an International Friend

We use cookies. By browsing our site you agree to our use of cookies. Accept

Essay on Patriotism with Quotations | KIPS Notes

In this post, I am sharing 02 examples of Essay on Patriotism with Quotations for the Students of FSC 2nd Year . This is very important essay from the point of FSC part 2 English Paper. Patriotism Essay in English is being shared here for the students of Class 12 . However, students of Class 10 can also prepare this essay. Essay has been taken from Kips Notes. If you like to write quotations in your essay to make it impressive, you should visit Essay Topics with Quotations .

You can use the same quotations in the 2nd sample of this essay. Students can write the same essay if the question is write an essay on Patriotism, Essay on Love for my Country, Patriotism Essay with quotes, My Country Essay or Essay on Why I Love Pakistan . You should also see Essay on Ideology of Pakistan .

Patriotism Essay with Quotations for Class 10 and Class 12 – 450 Words

“each nation feels superior to other nations. that breeds patriotism –and wars.”.

Patriotism is a frame of mind in which one loves one’s country and is proud of it. It is a vigorous feeling of love, loyalty and support of one’s county especially in defence against its enemies. It means that one should give more value and importance to one’s country than to one’s own self. It makes one bound for certain responsibilities, and these responsibilities are ideological commitment and dedication to the defence and prosperity of one’s country.

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Man is a social animal. It is hard for him to breathe in isolation. Contact with his fellow beings is inevitable for mutual growth and economic development. Patriotism creates unity among the people for a noble cause and trains them to tolerate one and other and sacrifice for the country.

“Soldiers die not in hatred but in love.”

Patriotism is a virtue that converts a mob into nation. Nations rise and prosper if their individuals are united by a cord of love, sympathy and sincerity. People learn to honour the freedom and independence of their country. They learn that they can prosper and progress if they have a deep natural relationship with their country. Birds fly towards their nests, children rush to take refuge in the lap of their mothers and human beings move towards their homes for peace and shelter, and so is our country. That gives us protection and peace. It is a sort of heaven for us. We should try our best to make it beautiful, secure, strong and peaceful. Our existence definitely depends on the existence and survival of our dear homeland. We can do so if we have the ultimate faith in our country. We must not undermine our relationship and association which we have with our homeland by birth.

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be, Be one.”

Disciplined armed forces, hardworking and skilful craftsmen, diligent and committed women, and ambitious students have only one aim and that is to serve their country. They believe that their personal achievement will benefit not only themselves but also their country. They want to raise the flag of their country because they have a strong sense of patriotism. Love works wonders. Miracles are not beyond us if we are fired with the passion of patriotism. Patriotism fills us with a magnetic force which overcomes all our petty differences of languages and creeds.

“Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s the comfort to go hand in hand”

You may also like Essay on National Unity .

2. Essay on Patriotism in English – 350+ Words

Being a true patriot, I love my country (Pakistan). Patriotism means a selfless love of a person for his country and countrymen. It is natural love. It is a natural passion.

We do not love our country only because it is beautiful. In fact, we love it because it is our native land. We love it because we live in it. We breathe its air. We drink its sweet water. We eat its food. We enjoy its beautiful natural sights.

The beasts too love their homes. If a man has no love for his country, he is worse than a beast. The names or great men shine in history because they, being true patriots, loved their country and countrymen. The names of the traitors are remembered with curses.

Being a true patriot, I always think of and act for the betterment of my country and countrymen. I take a leading part in the defence of my county. I do no demand for the price of my services for my country. I am always prepared to lay down my life and property in the defence of my country. I live for my country. I am always ready to die for the defence of my country.

We should be true patriots. We should make our country strong and prosperous. We must not allow others to deprive us of our freedom and independence. We should also not try to snatch away the rights of other nations.

Patriotism has some demands. Its first demand is to place the collective interest of the county above self-interest. It also demands the creation of high individual character. It demands hatred for wrong and love for truth and piety. Patriotism is not merely to be professed, but it is to be shown through action.

To conclude, a person loves his country out of the passion of patriotism. Patriotism teaches us not only to love our own country and countrymen, but also to think of, and act for, the betterment of all the human beings in the world. Being a true patriot, I have a very deep love for my country (Pakistan). I am always prepared to sacrifice my life and property in the defence of my country, I am proud of being a true patriot.

You may also like: Quotations for Essay on Patriotism

  • More In English Essays

Essay Writing 101: The Basics That Every Writer Should Know

Student and Social Services Essay

Students and Social Service Essay with Quotations

load Shedding Essay, Essay on Load Shedding in Pakistan, Energy Crisis Essay

Load Shedding in Pakistan Essay – 1200 Words

quotes for essay patriotism

August 25, 2019 at 9:18 am

Outstanding…but I think you should add negative aspects too.

quotes for essay patriotism

August 25, 2019 at 11:44 am

Is there any negative aspect of patriotism?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

quotes for essay patriotism

  • Privacy Policty
  • Terms of Service
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Policy

Zahid Notes

Outstanding Essay on Patriotism for College Students

Patriotism essay for 2nd year, patriotism (outstanding version).

Such is the patriot's boast, wherever we roam, His first, best country ever is at home
Lovely and honourable! It is to die for one's country.
I only regret that I have but only one life to lose for my country.
It was the duty of all patriotic Pakistanis to uproot all evil things. And that over country could become respectable and prosperous only if educated people should a will to reform things.
Swim or sink, live or die, survive or perish with my country was my unalterable determination.

Other Essays for you:

No comments:.

Post a Comment

Trending Topics

Latest posts.

  • 1st year Tarjuma tul Quran book pdf download
  • 1st year biology guess 2024 pdf download
  • 1st year Past papers solved and unsolved all Punjab Boards
  • 1st year education guess paper 2024 pdf download
  • 1st year math chapterwise mcqs with answers pdf download
  • 1st year guess paper 2024 Punjab Board pdf
  • 1st year Math guess paper 2024 Punjab boards
  • 1st year Islamiat Elective notes pdf download
  • 1st year education Notes pdf download
  • 1st year education paper scheme 2024
  • 1st year English guess paper 2024 Punjab board
  • 1st year English MCQs Objective Solved Notes
  • 2nd year guess paper 2024 Punjab board
  • 1st year English complete notes pdf download
  • 2nd year tarjuma tul Quran book pdf download
  • 2nd year pak study short questions notes pdf download
  • BISE Hyderabad
  • BISE Lahore
  • bise rawalpindi
  • BISE Sargodha
  • career-counseling
  • how to pass
  • Punjab Board
  • Sindh-Board
  • Solved mcqs
  • Student-Guide
  • Quote of the Day
  • Picture Quotes

Albert Einstein Quotes About Patriotism

Standart top banner.

Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.

It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!

I find it difficult to believe that I belong to such an idiotic, rotten species - the species that actually boasts of its freedom of will, heroism on command, senseless violence, and all of the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism.

last adds STANDART BOTTOM BANNER

Send report.

  • The author didn't say that
  • There is a mistake in the text of this quote
  • The quote belongs to another author
  • Other error

quotes for essay patriotism

Related Authors

' class=

Albert Einstein

' src=

  • Born: March 14, 1879
  • Died: April 18, 1955
  • Occupation: Theoretical Physicist
  • Cite this Page: Citation

Get Social with AzQuotes

Follow AzQuotes on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends

Popular Topics

  • Inspirational
  • Motivational
  • New Quotes (2)
  • Achievement
  • Agnosticism
  • Animal Cruelty
  • Animal Rights
  • Appreciation
  • Art And Science
  • Atomic Bomb
  • Being Alone
  • Being Human
  • Being Yourself
  • Climate Change
  • Common Sense
  • Communication
  • Competition
  • Consciousness
  • Conservation
  • Constitution
  • Contemplation
  • Creative Thinking
  • Daydreaming
  • Determination
  • Determinism
  • Disappointment
  • Encouraging
  • Enlightenment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environment
  • Fairy Tales
  • Falling In Love
  • Fear Of Death
  • Freedom And Liberty
  • Giving Back
  • Helping Others
  • Human Nature
  • Human Rights
  • Imagination
  • Independence
  • Individuality
  • Inspiration
  • Intelligence
  • Jesus Christ
  • Justification
  • Knowing God
  • Law And Order
  • Libertarianism
  • Life And Death
  • Life And Love
  • Making Mistakes
  • Manifestation
  • Mathematics
  • Military Service
  • Mindfulness
  • Moving Forward
  • Nationalism
  • Natural Law
  • Never Giving Up
  • Not Giving Up
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Nuclear Power
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Opportunity
  • Peace Of Mind
  • Perseverance
  • Persistence
  • Personality
  • Politicians
  • Positive Thinking
  • Preparation
  • Problem Solving
  • Purpose Of Life
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Quantum Physics
  • Questioning
  • Rationality
  • Recognition
  • Relationships
  • Responsibility
  • Science And Religion
  • Science And Technology
  • Self Esteem
  • Selfishness
  • Simple Life
  • Social Justice
  • Speculation
  • Spirituality
  • Stay Strong
  • Success And Failure
  • Time And Space
  • Time Travel
  • Understanding
  • Visualization
  • War Of The Worlds
  • Javascript and RSS feeds
  • WordPress plugin
  • ES Version AZQuotes.ES
  • Submit Quotes
  • Privacy Policy

Login with your account

Create account, find your account.

quotes for essay patriotism

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

quotes for essay patriotism

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

quotes for essay patriotism

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

Leverage Edu

  • Trending Events /

20 Quotes on Patriotism India

quotes for essay patriotism

  • Updated on  
  • Jan 23, 2024

20 Quotes on Patriotism India

After being a British colony for about 200 years, India finally gained independence on August 15, 1947. During this struggle, thousands of innocent people lost their lives and countless women became widowed with their husbands sacrificing everything to achieve freedom of the nation. In 2024, India will be celebrating its 7th Republic Day on January 26. So, if you are looking for some inspiration for your social media posts, essays, or poster-making competition in schools, here are the best quotes on patriotism India. 

Also Read: Essay on Patriotism: Samples for Students in 100, 250, 500 Words

10 Best Quotes About Patriotism

What breath of freedom shall I find except in fighting for the freedom of the nation? Rabindranath Tagore
Let every nation remember the earth will forgive in the end; not just because we cannot do more for her, but because nature can and will heal if we give her the chance. Indira Gandhi
The highest privilege and duty of a citizen is to question authority. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Unity in diversity is our strength.” Vallabhbhai Patel
Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.  Swami Vivekananda
If a country has no right to live, it has no right to ask for freedom. Savitribai Phule
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Mahatma Gandhi
Let freedom reign. Let every nation have its own self-determination. Rabindranath Tagore
Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
No real change in history has ever been achieved by discussions. Subhas Chandra Bose

Also Read: Indian Freedom Fighters

10 Quotes on Patriotism India by Freedom Fighters 

Moving on, here we have a few more important quotes on patriotism by Indian freedom fighters.

Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Do or die. Mahatma Gandhi
Give me blood, and I will give you freedom. Subhas Chandra Bose
They cannot make history who forget history. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. Mahatma Gandhi
A nation cannot grow in isolation. Jawaharlal Nehru
A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the brave never die even once. Bhagat Singh
Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living? Mahatma Gandhi
Fearlessness is the first requisite of spiritual progress. Mahatma Gandhi
Ahimsa is the strongest force in the world. Mahatma Gandhi

Related Blogs

Numerous slogans in India resemble the deep love and patriotism of the citizens. Popular examples include, Vande Mataram, Do or Die, Jai Hind, and Give me blood and I will give you freedom.

There are numerous quotes that revolve around the theme of Indian freedom and patriotism. You can use them in your captions for social media posts, stories, posters, and drawings to add a special touch to your creations. A few common examples include The highest privilege and duty of a citizen is to question authority by B. R. Ambedkar and Ahimsa is the strongest force in the world by Mahatma Gandhi.

Patriotism in 2 lines is a feeling of support, love, and devotion of an individual towards their country. Any person who loves their country and is willing to do anything is a patriot. 

For more information about such informative articles, check the  trending events  page of  Leverage Edu .

' src=

Parul Sharma

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

quotes for essay patriotism

Connect With Us

quotes for essay patriotism

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

quotes for essay patriotism

Resend OTP in

quotes for essay patriotism

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

quotes for essay patriotism

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

quotes for essay patriotism

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

quotes for essay patriotism

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

quotes for essay patriotism

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

quotes for essay patriotism

Don't Miss Out

IMAGES

  1. TOP 25 PATRIOTISM AND FREEDOM QUOTES

    quotes for essay patriotism

  2. 40 Patriotic Quotes That Honor the United States of America (2022)

    quotes for essay patriotism

  3. Importance of Patriotism Essay for Students and Children in English

    quotes for essay patriotism

  4. Famous Patriotic Quotes And Sayings For Peace With Images

    quotes for essay patriotism

  5. Essay On Patriotism In English

    quotes for essay patriotism

  6. Essay on Patriotism

    quotes for essay patriotism

VIDEO

  1. Quotations for essay patriotism| quotes for essay writing

  2. Translation of paragraphs 1-3 of unit#2 Patriotism

  3. Quotations|Essay:Patriotism|top 20 quotes|part 2|easy quotes|#essayhelp

  4. 10 Lines Essay On Patriotism In English

  5. 20 Quotations On My Hero In History |My Favourite Poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal

  6. Essay on Patriotism|Essay on Patriotism in English with Quotations|Patriotism Essay in English

COMMENTS

  1. Patriotism Quotes

    Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw. Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. Samuel Johnson. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Howard Zinn. It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don't regret it.

  2. TOP 25 PATRIOTISM QUOTES (of 576)

    11 Copy quote. Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy. George Bernard Shaw. Fear, Patriotic, Atheism. 22 Copy quote. Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first. Charles de Gaulle. Integrity, Hate, Patriotic.

  3. 30 Patriotic Quotes To Celebrate America

    But above all, try something.". — Franklin D. Roosevelt. "There is one thing that the American people always rise to and extend their hand to and that is the truth of justice, and of liberty ...

  4. 50 Patriotic Quotes on Being Devoted to One's Country

    Patriotic Quotes That'll Leave a Mark on Your Mind. 39. "There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag.". - Jesse Ventura. 40. "Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.". - Calvin Coolidge. 41.

  5. 46 Best Patriotic Quotes to Honor America With Pride

    There are also longer verses with a little more to unpack like this quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt about freedom: "In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.". Thrown into the mix are a few unexpected Fourth of July quotes and Memorial Day quotes about patriotism by household names, like these words from John ...

  6. Goodreads

    We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us.

  7. 45 Best Patriotic Quotes for 2024: Inspiring Quotes About Patriotism

    RD.com. "America without her soldiers would be like God without his angels." —Claudia Pemberton. RD.com. "America is another name for opportunity.". — Ralph Waldo Emerson. RD.com. "I ...

  8. The 20 Best Quotes about patriotism

    20 of the best book quotes about patriotism. "We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from true, we had suddenly learned to see.". ″'Hitler made only one big mistake when he built his Atlantic Wall', the paratroopers liked to say. 'He forgot to put a roof on ...

  9. Patriotism Quotes

    quotations about patriotism. Patriotism is a thing of the heart. A man is a patriot if his heart beats true to his country. Patriotism is one of the unalterable facts of man's nature. It is a virtue if you like it, and a vice if you don't like it. Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

  10. 104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples

    Roman Patriotism in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator". The gladiator Maximus, and the general in one person, embodies the greatest Roman patriotism, in the name of which he sacrifices his wife and son, loses his liberty and wastes his precious life. Loyalty Imagery in "Patriotism" by Yukio Mishima.

  11. TOP 25 AMERICAN PATRIOTIC QUOTES (of 120)

    If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln. Wisdom, Religious, Freedom. 949 Copy quote. The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous. Frederick Douglass. Honesty, Integrity, War. 128 Copy quote.

  12. Essay on Patriotism for Students and Children

    500+ Words Essay on Patriotism. Essay on Patriotism: Patriotism refers to the passionate love one has for their country. This virtue pushes to citizens of a country to work for their country selflessly and make it better. A truly developed country is made up of true patriots. In other words, patriotism means keeping the country's interest ...

  13. TOP 25 PATRIOTISM AND NATIONALISM QUOTES (of 69)

    George Bernard Shaw. Peace, Patriotic, Race. 54 Copy quote. Show source. Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw. Funny, Wisdom, Country. 76 Copy quote. Patriotism is a kind of religion; it is the egg from which wars are hatched.

  14. Patriotism Essay for Students in English

    Essay on Patriotism. Patriotism is more than just a word; it's a feeling that resides deep within the hearts of individuals who share a common bond with their country. In simple terms, patriotism is the love and devotion one has for their homeland. This essay explores the essence of patriotism, its significance in our daily lives, and how it ...

  15. Charles de Gaulle: 'Patriotism is when love of your own people comes

    This thought-provoking quote reminds us of the importance of embracing love and unity over hate and division.Patriotism, as de Gaulle describes it, is an inherent admiration and loyalty towards one's own country and fellow citizens. It is the belief in the value and uniqueness of one's nation, culture, and heritage.

  16. Notes on Nationalism

    In this essay I am concerned with nationalism as it occurs among the English intelligentsia. In them, much more than in ordinary English people, it is unmixed with patriotism and can therefore can be studied pure. Below are listed the varieties of nationalism now flourishing among English intellectuals, with such comments as seem to be needed.

  17. Patriotism

    patriotism, feeling of attachment and commitment to a country, nation, or political community.Patriotism (love of country) and nationalism (loyalty to one's nation) are often taken to be synonymous, yet patriotism has its origins some 2,000 years prior to the rise of nationalism in the 19th century.. Greek and especially Roman antiquity provide the roots for a political patriotism that ...

  18. Mark Twain Quotes About Patriotism

    Discover Mark Twain quotes about patriotism. Share with friends. Create amazing picture quotes from Mark Twain quotations. Login Sign Up. Authors; Topics; ... (1992). "Collected tales, sketches, speeches, & essays: 1891-1910" Patriotism is usually the refuge of the scoundrel. He is the man who talks the loudest. Mark Twain. Men ...

  19. Quotations about patriotism|Top 12 quotes for essay writing

    Welcome to our channel! If you are interested to learn quotations, you are at right place. This video is for the viewers who search quotations for their essa...

  20. Essay on Patriotism with Quotations

    Patriotism Essay with Quotations for Class 10 and Class 12 - 450 Words. "Each nation feels superior to other nations. That breeds patriotism -and wars.". Patriotism is a frame of mind in which one loves one's country and is proud of it. It is a vigorous feeling of love, loyalty and support of one's county especially in defence ...

  21. Outstanding Essay on Patriotism for College Students

    5. My Hero in History Essay. You may want to see a list of college English essays on this website or Important essays for college exams on Zahid Notes. This essay is especially for Pakistani college students. This is an outstanding essay with quotations for 2nd year Inter part 2 and B.A students . The essay includes quotes on patriotism essay ...

  22. Albert Einstein Quotes About Patriotism

    It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder. Albert Einstein. Peace, War, Killing Someone. Albert Einstein (2015). "Bite-Size Einstein: Quotations on Just About Everything from the Greatest Mind of the Twentieth Century", p.56, St. Martin's Press.

  23. 20 Quotes on Patriotism India

    In 2024, India will be celebrating its 7th Republic Day on January 26. So, if you are looking for some inspiration for your social media posts, essays, or poster-making competition in schools, here are the best quotes on patriotism India. Also Read: Essay on Patriotism: Samples for Students in 100, 250, 500 Words. 10 Best Quotes About Patriotism