[W]e're taught that if one person kills another person…
![“[W]e're taught that if one person kills another person, that is murder; but if a government kills a hundred thousand persons, that is patriotism.” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/d06/howard-zinn-576_government_w-e-re-taught-that-if-one-person-kills-a_1087158.jpg)
“[W]e're taught that if one person kills another person, that is murder; but if a government kills a hundred thousand persons, that is patriotism.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts individual murder with state‑sanctioned mass killing, labeling the latter as patriotism, highlighting moral hypocrisy.
In simple terms: It points out the moral inconsistency of calling state violence patriotism.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and definitions of patriotism.
Themes
morality
politics
war
state violence
hypocrisy
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy debate
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
political critique
civil disobedience
Questions to Reflect On
- When does state violence become justified?
- How do societies define patriotism?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex geopolitical contexts.