Nationalism Quote by Dan Rather
““It is important not to confuse “patriotism” with “nationalism.” As I define it, nationalism is a monologue in which you place your country in a position of moral and cultural supremacy over others. Patriotism, while deeply personal, is a dialogue with your fellow citizens, and a larger world, about not only what you love about your country but also how it can be improved.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: National Public Radio Interview, 2018
Patriotism is a collaborative, reflective love for one's country aiming at improvement, whereas nationalism is an exclusive, superiority‑based monologue.
In simple terms: Patriotism invites dialogue and growth; nationalism shuts out others.
Key Takeaway
Promote inclusive love for your nation.
Themes
patriotism
nationalism
dialogue
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- political debates
- education curricula
- community meetings
Key Concepts
civic identity
ethical politics
collective responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster patriotism over nationalism?
- What practices encourage inclusive national pride?
A Different Perspective
Nationalism can be deeply ingrained and hard to challenge.
![“[I]nclusion, not assimilation, should be the key concept in seeking, ever seeking, a more perfect national union. Our own history has shown that we are stronger as a mosaic than a melting pot. Our nation is bound together more by ideals than by blood or land, and inclusion is in our cultural DNA…” quote by Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab3/dan-rather-2779_inclusion_i-nclusion-not-assimilation-should-be-th_105214.jpg)
![“He [Mikhail Gorbachev] has, as many great leaders have, impressive eyes…There's a kind of laser-beam stare, a forced quality, you get from Gorbachev that does not come across as something peaceful within himself. It's the look of a kind of human volcano, or he'd probably like to describe it as a…” quote by Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed6/dan-rather-2779_beam_he-mikhail-gorbachev-has-as-many-great-l_117079.jpg)
![“The very nature of economics is rooted in nationalism. ... It [was] developed ... in the hope of throwing light upon questions of policy. But policy means nothing unless there is an authority to carry it out, and authorities are national.” quote by Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eba/joan-robinson-11438_authority_the-very-nature-of-economics-is-rooted-i_15974.jpg)
