At last, Mythic feeling and conscious perception no longer…
“At last, Mythic feeling and conscious perception no longer confront each other as antagonists but as allies. Passionate nationalism is no longer directed toward tribal, dynastic or theological loyalties, but toward that primal substance, the racially based nationhood itself. Here is the message which will one day melt away all dross, eliminate all that is base, and bring into being all that is noble.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Nationalism can shift from tribal loyalties to an abstract, racial identity, promising moral purification.
In simple terms: Nationalism becomes an abstract racial ideal.
Question the moral claims of such nationalism.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political movements
- cultural policy
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the dangers of abstract nationalism?
- How does this view affect minority groups?
Such ideas can justify exclusion and violence.