--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of…" description: "\"Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism, replied in three words, two of which were 'Welsh Nationalism.'\" — Avram Davidson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg" --- # Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism… ![“Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism, replied in three words, two of which were 'Welsh Nationalism.'” quote by Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg) > “Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism, replied in three words, two of which were 'Welsh Nationalism.'” [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dylan Thomas reduced a complex political question to a tautological answer, highlighting the circular nature of nationalist rhetoric. **In simple terms:** Thomas answered with a tautology. Key Takeaway Recognize circular arguments in politics. Themes politics language nationalism humor self‑reference Mood wry critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - media interviews - education - critical thinking Key Concepts Rhetorical loops identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Why use humor in political discourse? - How does tautology reveal bias? A Different Perspective May oversimplify serious issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan-thomas/) [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Nationalism Replied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism-replied-4709492/) [Thomas Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thomas-asked-1356576/) [Thought Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-welsh-2326073/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-word/) [Three words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-words/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welsh/) [Welsh Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welsh-nationalism-4709491/) [Words Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-welsh-4652933/) ## Related quotes > [I thought the first Welsh team I played in was the golden generation, with Neville Southall, Mark Hughes, Ian Rush, Dean Saunders, Gary Speed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/i-thought-the-first-welsh-team-i-played-in-was-the-golden-generation/) [Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/) > [“We asked our Welsh teacher, Mr Llewellyn – who is young, to tell us the Welsh sex words. The Welsh word for sex is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/we-asked-our-welsh-teacher-mr-llewellyn-who-is-young-to-tell-us-the/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Thomas jabbed a thumb over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows. "You met our new friend?" Miho responded, a smirk flashing across his face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/thomas-jabbed-a-thumb-over-his-shoulder-and-raised-his-eyebrows-you/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Still in Bed?" Thomas had asked with amusement, as Lissianna had blinked at them. "I am so glad you got at least a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/still-in-bed-thomas-had-asked-with-amusement-as-lissianna-had-blinked/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [Can you do that?” Thomas asked. “Huh?” “Kill someone three times.” “I’d figure out a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/can-you-do-that-thomas-asked-huh-kill-someone-three-times-i-d-figure/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [“If your new boss wanted yo on the island, wouldn't she just have told you to go there?" Thomas asked. "Seems like," I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/if-your-new-boss-wanted-yo-on-the-island-wouldn-t-she-just-have-told/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Butters blinked at looked at Thomas. "My God," he said. "You've been shot." Thomas hooked a thumb at Butters. "Check out Dr. Marcus Welby,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/butters-blinked-at-looked-at-thomas-my-god-he-said-you-ve-been-shot/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Where am I?” Thomas asked, surprised”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/where-am-i-thomas-asked-surprised/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [“Where’s your bowstrings?’ Thomas asked, for the priest had neither helmet nor cap. ‘I looped them round my…well, never mind. It has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/where-s-your-bowstrings-thomas-asked-for-the-priest-had-neither/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [“Lorean? The Doctor’s TARDIS?” “Whose TARDIS?” Thomas asked. “That’s right.” Mr. Pianova smiled.“Blue box and every interior the Doctor has roamed in.” “Doctor who?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-rosado-machain/lorean-the-doctor-s-tardis-whose-tardis-thomas-asked-that-s-right-mr/) [Julian Rosado-Machain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-rosado-machain/) > [Karrin, eh?" Thomas asked. I nodded. "She's real serious about order. A man dying, she can understand. A man coming back. That's different." "Isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/karrin-eh-thomas-asked-i-nodded-she-s-real-serious-about-order-a-man/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“You're giving up the hunt for de Taillebourg?' Thomas asked. He had learned the priest's name from Robbie. 'No.' Robbie still had his head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/you-re-giving-up-the-hunt-for-de-taillebourg-thomas-asked-he-had/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [“Where are we going?” Thomas asked, still feeling the weight of seeing those walls close, thinking about the maze, the confusion, the fear. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/where-are-we-going-thomas-asked-still-feeling-the-weight-of-seeing/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [“Bring the luggage in, Thomas,” Lucian ordered with a frown as he approached the front. “What about the girl?” Thomas asked with irritation. “That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/bring-the-luggage-in-thomas-lucian-ordered-with-a-frown-as-he/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [“Thomas hooked a thumb at Butters. "Check out Dr. Marcus Welby, MD, here." "I'd have gone with Doogie Howser, maybe," I said. "Split the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/thomas-hooked-a-thumb-at-butters-check-out-dr-marcus-welby-md-here-i/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## More by Avram Davidson > [“Where there is no bread, there is no philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/where-there-is-no-bread-there-is-no-philosophy/) [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) > [What is cheaper than lust or of less value than alchemy or aphrodisiacs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/what-is-cheaper-than-lust-or-of-less-value-than-alchemy-or/) [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) > [“Things oughtn’t to be the way they are, altogether. But letting a madman burn down the barn is no way to improve them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/things-oughtn-t-to-be-the-way-they-are-altogether-but-letting-a/) [Avram Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) [Explore all 4 Avram Davidson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/) ## More Dylan quotes > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [“Dylan stopped at an intersection and gave Chris a long look. 'Not you. You are original. Unique.' 'That good or bad?' 'Oh definitely good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-fielding/dylan-stopped-at-an-intersection-and-gave-chris-a-long-look-not-you/) [Kim Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-fielding/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [ The most recent incarnation of \[Bob\] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan-has-been-the-traveling/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [That's who I wanted to be like was Bob Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/that-s-who-i-wanted-to-be-like-was-bob-dylan/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Everybody who I ever cared about has told me that they like my music: Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Al Green, The Spinners, Smokey Robinson.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/everybody-who-i-ever-cared-about-has-told-me-that-they-like-my-music/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [“the mayor wants things smoothed over between O’Neil and you.” Inside Rachel a war battled: Yay! she was going to see Dylan regularly. And:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/the-mayor-wants-things-smoothed-over-between-o-neil-and-you-inside/) [Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/) > [Producing Bob Dylan was pretty much a spectator sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/producing-bob-dylan-was-pretty-much-a-spectator-sport/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [Listen, the story of the United States is this: One kid, without anything, walks out of his house, down the road, with nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/listen-the-story-of-the-united-states-is-this-one-kid-without/) [T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/) > [I first met (Bob Dylan) in '65. We've had a friendship for a long time. He decided to play on a record I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-sahm/i-first-met-bob-dylan-in-65-we-ve-had-a-friendship-for-a-long-time-he/) [Doug Sahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-sahm/) > [ Probably the high-watermark of \[Bob\] Dylan's career came after he plugged in his guitar ("Judas!" one fan shouted during a concert) and exploded American… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/probably-the-high-watermark-of-bob-dylan-s-career-came-after-he/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [Most of the artists were trying to make a living, trying to get laid, trying to figure out who they were. They weren't trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/most-of-the-artists-were-trying-to-make-a-living-trying-to-get-laid/) [David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/) > [I've been really, really blessed. I got to perform on stage with Bob Dylan. I've gotten to sing with Mick Jagger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-ve-been-really-really-blessed-i-got-to-perform-on-stage-with-bob/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Courtney Love's name should be right next to Bob Dylan when they say best lyricist of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/courtney-love-s-name-should-be-right-next-to-bob-dylan-when-they-say/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) [Browse all 668 Dylan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism, replied in three words, two of which were 'Welsh Nationalism.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Avram Davidson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-welsh-nationalism-replied-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dylan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-welsh-nationalism-replied-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcf/avram-davidson-69034_dylan_dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-we_2992583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought of Welsh Nationalism, replied in three words, two of which were 'Welsh…” — Avram Davidson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Avram Davidson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avram-davidson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Dylan Thomas, asked what he thought...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-welsh-nationalism-replied-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avram-davidson/dylan-thomas-asked-what-he-thought-of-welsh-nationalism-replied-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```