--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is important not to confuse…" description: "\"“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 positi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/dan-rather-2779_nationalism_it-is-important-not-to-confuse-patriotis_457046.jpg" --- # It is important not to confuse “patriotism” with… ![“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…” quote by Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/dan-rather-2779_nationalism_it-is-important-not-to-confuse-patriotis_457046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/dan-rather-2779_nationalism_it-is-important-not-to-confuse-patriotis_457046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/dan-rather-2779_nationalism_it-is-important-not-to-confuse-patriotis_457046.jpg) > ““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.”” [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) ## 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 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) ## Related quotes > [“It is important not to confuse “patriotism” with “nationalism.” As I define it, nationalism is a monologue in which you place your country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/it-is-important-not-to-confuse-patriotism-with-nationalism-as-i-2/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [It's only important to differentiate between patriotism and nationalism. I speak of enlightened patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-knobloch/it-s-only-important-to-differentiate-between-patriotism-and/) [Charlotte Knobloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-knobloch/) > [“Nationalism and jingoism—essential corollaries of militarism—are also systemic imperatives because they divide the global working classes, and bind them to the elites oppressing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-derber/nationalism-and-jingoism-essential-corollaries-of-militarism-are-also/) [Charles Derber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-derber/) > [“I was taught not to distinguish between patriotism and nationalism; the word patriotism was an attempt to present the same ugly nationalist phenomenon of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josip-novakovich/i-was-taught-not-to-distinguish-between-patriotism-and-nationalism/) [Josip Novakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josip-novakovich/) > [“Patriotism or Nationalism without reasoning is what I call “Nationalist Fundamentalism”, which is as dangerous as “Religious Fundamentalism”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/patriotism-or-nationalism-without-reasoning-is-what-i-call/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Every child in America who enters school at the age of five is mentally ill, because he comes to school with an allegiance toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-middlebrook-pierce/every-child-in-america-who-enters-school-at-the-age-of-five-is/) Chester Middlebrook Pierce > [The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-difference-between-patriotism-and-nationalism-is-that-the-patriot/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [I want to caution that we must not confuse patriotism with blind endorsement of bad policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hatfield/i-want-to-caution-that-we-must-not-confuse-patriotism-with-blind/) [Mark Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hatfield/) > [Patriotism is nationalism, and always leads to war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-caldicott/patriotism-is-nationalism-and-always-leads-to-war/) [Helen Caldicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-caldicott/) > [Patriotism can only flourish only where racism and nationalism are given no quarter. We should never mistake patriotism for nationalism. A patriot is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-rau/patriotism-can-only-flourish-only-where-racism-and-nationalism-are/) [Johannes Rau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-rau/) > [There is a higher form of patriotism than nationalism, and that higher form is not limited by the boundaries of one's country; but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-straus/there-is-a-higher-form-of-patriotism-than-nationalism-and-that-higher/) Oscar Straus > [“Nationalism has again become a seductive but treacherous antidote to an experience of disorder and meaninglessness: the unexpectedly rowdy anticlimax, in a densely populated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/nationalism-has-again-become-a-seductive-but-treacherous-antidote-to/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [“Nationalism is relativist, since the only truth is the resentment we feel when we contemplate others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/nationalism-is-relativist-since-the-only-truth-is-the-resentment-we/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) ## More by Dan Rather > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [“a democracy requires open access to ideas. It requires a willingness to struggle and learn, to question our own suppositions and biases, to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/a-democracy-requires-open-access-to-ideas-it-requires-a-willingness/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [ “\[I\]nclusion, not assimilation, should be the key concept in seeking, ever seeking, a more perfect national union. Our own history has shown that we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/i-nclusion-not-assimilation-should-be-the-key-concept-in-seeking-ever/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [One of the most important roles of our journalists is to be watchdogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/one-of-the-most-important-roles-of-our-journalists-is-to-be-watchdogs/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/he-mikhail-gorbachev-has-as-many-great-leaders-have-impressive-eyes/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [I have tried to remain a working, cutting-edge journalist and I don't do it the way everybody else does it. 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We used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/college-is-like-a-woman-you-work-so-hard-to-get-in-and-nine-months/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/despite-what-many-americans-think-most-soviets-do-not-yearn-for/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [It's the American way: if you don't vote, you don't get to whine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/it-s-the-american-way-if-you-don-t-vote-you-don-t-get-to-whine/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Journalists should denounce government by public opinion polls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/journalists-should-denounce-government-by-public-opinion-polls/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) [Explore all 150 Dan Rather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) ## More Nationalism quotes > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [The mind supplies the idea of a nation, but what gives this idea its sentimental force is a community of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/the-mind-supplies-the-idea-of-a-nation-but-what-gives-this-idea-its/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [“Nationalism is relativist, since the only truth is the resentment we feel when we contemplate others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/nationalism-is-relativist-since-the-only-truth-is-the-resentment-we/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [“Nationalism has again become a seductive but treacherous antidote to an experience of disorder and meaninglessness: the unexpectedly rowdy anticlimax, in a densely populated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/nationalism-has-again-become-a-seductive-but-treacherous-antidote-to/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [Female Virtues are of a Domestick turn. The Family is the proper Province for Private Women to Shine in. If they must be showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/female-virtues-are-of-a-domestick-turn-the-family-is-the-proper/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“Home is not just walls and a roof; it is where the heart finds love and peace, and where memories take root, grounding us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/home-is-not-just-walls-and-a-roof-it-is-where-the-heart-finds-love/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [ The very nature of economics is rooted in nationalism. ... It \[was\] developed ... in the hope of throwing light upon questions of policy.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/the-very-nature-of-economics-is-rooted-in-nationalism-it-was/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [“Internationalism is in any case hostile to democracy….The only purely popular government is local, and founded on local knowledge. The citizens can rule the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/internationalism-is-in-any-case-hostile-to-democracy-the-only-purely/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [There is Ontario patriotism, Quebec patriotism, or Western patriotism; each based on the hope that it may swallow up the others, but there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bourassa/there-is-ontario-patriotism-quebec-patriotism-or-western-patriotism/) [Henri Bourassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bourassa/) > [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Traditional nationalism cannot survive the fissioning of the atom. One world or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/traditional-nationalism-cannot-survive-the-fissioning-of-the-atom-one/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [The wedding of Christianity or Judaism with nationalism is lethal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-wedding-of-christianity-or-judaism-with-nationalism-is-lethal/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) [Browse all 842 Nationalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. 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