--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patriotism: The first resort of a…" description: "\"Patriotism: The first resort of a scoundrel.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ambrose-bierce-140_firsts_patriotism-the-first-resort-of-a-scoundr_1016508.jpg" --- # Patriotism: The first resort of a scoundrel. ![“Patriotism: The first resort of a scoundrel.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ambrose-bierce-140_firsts_patriotism-the-first-resort-of-a-scoundr_1016508.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ambrose-bierce-140_firsts_patriotism-the-first-resort-of-a-scoundr_1016508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/ambrose-bierce-140_firsts_patriotism-the-first-resort-of-a-scoundr_1016508.jpg) > “Patriotism: The first resort of a scoundrel.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patriotism is often used as a cover for selfish or immoral actions. **In simple terms:** Patriotism can hide selfish motives. Key Takeaway Question motives behind patriotic claims. Themes politics morality nationalism Mood skeptical critical Type aphilosophical satirical When to use this quote - political speeches - media analysis - public debates Key Concepts ethics social critique Questions to Reflect On - Is patriotism always a disguise? - How can we distinguish true service from self‑interest? A Different Perspective Patriotism may also inspire genuine sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Resort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-resort-2240418/) [Resort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resort/) [Resort Scoundrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resort-scoundrel-2240419/) [Resorts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resorts/) [Scoundrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoundrel/) [Scoundrels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoundrels/) ## Related quotes > [Patriotism, n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/patriotism-n-combustible-rubbish-ready-to-the-torch-of-any-one/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If I did what has already been done, I would be a plagiarist and would consider myself unworthy; so I do something different and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/if-i-did-what-has-already-been-done-i-would-be-a-plagiarist-and-would/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Only a sadistic scoundrel-or a fool-tells the bald truth on social occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/only-a-sadistic-scoundrel-or-a-fool-tells-the-bald-truth-on-social/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [An economist is a scoundrel who tells you the way things are rather than the way you want them to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nordhaus/an-economist-is-a-scoundrel-who-tells-you-the-way-things-are-rather/) [William Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nordhaus/) > [I've always thought respectable people scoundrels, and I look anxiously at my face every morning for signs of my becoming a scoundrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-ve-always-thought-respectable-people-scoundrels-and-i-look/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/patriotism-is-the-last-refuge-to-which-a-scoundrel-clings/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [It's very hard not to be a scoundrel nowadays. Everywhere there are pressures that work towards our personal and collective debasement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rodrigues/it-s-very-hard-not-to-be-a-scoundrel-nowadays-everywhere-there-are/) [Nelson Rodrigues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rodrigues/) > [Like a battalion of marines at roll call, her neck hairs marshaled to five-alarm status. She stumbled back to her desk, jerked open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/like-a-battalion-of-marines-at-roll-call-her-neck-hairs-marshaled-to/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [Public office is the last refuge of the scoundrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boies-penrose/public-office-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-scoundrel/) [Boies Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boies-penrose/) > [40 million Russians are convinced that I am a scoundrel, a thief, a criminal or a CIA agent, who deserves to be shot, hanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/40-million-russians-are-convinced-that-i-am-a-scoundrel-a-thief-a/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [Whitney: You black-hearted, treacherous, conniving scoundrel. Clayton: Your flattery warms my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/whitney-you-black-hearted-treacherous-conniving-scoundrel-clayton/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [He who speaks ill of an absent friend, or fails to take his part if attacked by another, that man is a scoundrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-speaks-ill-of-an-absent-friend-or-fails-to-take-his-part-if/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Only by himself, with one acre and a house, will a dunce be a dunce. Once he manages to gain power, he'll turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/only-by-himself-with-one-acre-and-a-house-will-a-dunce-be-a-dunce/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Politics is the last resort of scoundrels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-bonpane/politics-is-the-last-resort-of-scoundrels/) [Blase Bonpane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-bonpane/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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