---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The nation which indulges towards another…"
description: "\"The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/george-washington-257_affection_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1290971.jpg"
---

#  The nation which indulges towards another an habitual…

![“The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/george-washington-257_affection_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1290971.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/george-washington-257_affection_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1290971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/george-washington-257_affection_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1290971.jpg)

> “The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.”

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A nation that habitually hates or loves another becomes enslaved to those emotions, diverting it from duty and self‑interest.

**In simple terms:** Hate or love can enslave a nation, leading it astray.

Key Takeaway

Guard against extreme emotions that cloud judgment.

Themes

politics psychology freedom

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- foreign policy debates
- public opinion formation
- educational curricula
- media analysis

Key Concepts

emotional slavery national duty self‑interest

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we balance emotional solidarity with objective national interest?
- What safeguards prevent emotional bias in governance?

A Different Perspective

Emotions alone cannot dictate policy; rational debate is also needed.

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[Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Animosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Farewell address](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farewell-address/) [Fondness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fondness/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/)

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