--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The patriotic fervor of a population is…" description: "\"“The patriotic fervor of a population is not always in direct proportion to its well-being and the fair dealing of its government. Nationalist pride, l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/eric-hoffer-343_identity_the-patriotic-fervor-of-a-population-is_678447.jpg" --- # The patriotic fervor of a population is not always in… ![“The patriotic fervor of a population is not always in direct proportion to its well-being and the fair dealing of its government. Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect. Hence the paradox that when government policies or historical accidents make the…” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/eric-hoffer-343_identity_the-patriotic-fervor-of-a-population-is_678447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/eric-hoffer-343_identity_the-patriotic-fervor-of-a-population-is_678447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/eric-hoffer-343_identity_the-patriotic-fervor-of-a-population-is_678447.jpg) > ““The patriotic fervor of a population is not always in direct proportion to its well-being and the fair dealing of its government. Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect. Hence the paradox that when government policies or historical accidents make the attainment and maintenance of individual self-respect difficult, the nationalist spirit of the people becomes more ardent and extreme. The unattainability of individual self-respect is not the least factor behind the chauvinism of the populace in Fascist and Communist regimes.”” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hoffer argues that when individuals lack self‑respect, they turn to nationalism, which can become extreme, especially under oppressive regimes. **In simple terms:** Loss of self‑respect fuels extreme nationalism. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal dignity to counter blind patriotism. Themes nationalism self‑respect political psychology authoritarianism Mood analytical thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political movements - authoritarian states - social upheavals - personal crises Key Concepts identity collective behavior paradox social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What personal factors drive people toward extreme nationalism? - Can societies foster self‑respect without nationalism? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex political motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government Nationalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-nationalist-5372304/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Nationalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalist/) [Nationalist Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalist-pride-5372302/) [Nationalist Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalist-spirit-5372303/) [Patriotic Fervor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic-fervor-2643741/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) ## Related quotes > [Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/nationalist-pride-like-other-variants-of-pride-can-be-a-substitute/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“But as part of that greatest generation, I have to acknowledge how much more we had going for us that contributed to our Pearl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/but-as-part-of-that-greatest-generation-i-have-to-acknowledge-how/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Into the soul of every student I would have instilled the patriotic fervor of Patrick Henry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/into-the-soul-of-every-student-i-would-have-instilled-the-patriotic/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, it is not merely because evil deeds may be performed in the name of patriotism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-patriotism-is-the-last-refuge-of-a-scoundrel-it-is-not-merely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/beware-the-leader-who-bangs-the-drums-of-war-in-order-to-whip-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The powers in charge keep us in a perpetual state of fear keep us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor with the cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-powers-in-charge-keep-us-in-a-perpetual-state-of-fear-keep-us-in/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear - kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor - with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/our-government-has-kept-us-in-a-perpetual-state-of-fear-kept-us-in-a/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [“Congress, responding with patriotic fervor, approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, as it was called, with only desultory debate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/congress-responding-with-patriotic-fervor-approved-the-gulf-of-tonkin/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [Our patriotic fervor was the result of the old and widespread belief in the idea of American exceptionalism, the idea that America was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/our-patriotic-fervor-was-the-result-of-the-old-and-widespread-belief/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [“In modern times, nationalism is the most copious and durable source of mass enthusiasm, and that nationalist fervor must be tapped if the drastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-modern-times-nationalism-is-the-most-copious-and-durable-source-of/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [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/) > [“For all his paranoid alarm, Bannon believes that the rise of nationalist movements across the world, from Europe to Japan to the United States,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/for-all-his-paranoid-alarm-bannon-believes-that-the-rise-of/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [The Chinese public is deeply nationalist, which matters to China's unelected political leadership as much as U.S. nationalism does to American politicians. As China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-chinese-public-is-deeply-nationalist-which-matters-to-china-s/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I am a secular rationalist Nationalist proud Indian who is inconvenient to both Hindu and Muslim communalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-akhtar/i-am-a-secular-rationalist-nationalist-proud-indian-who-is/) [Javed Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-akhtar/) > [There's a number of journalists and politicians who are interested in the rise of the National Front and the huge nationalist gathering, the movements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/there-s-a-number-of-journalists-and-politicians-who-are-interested-in/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. 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The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Identity quotes > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. 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