--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Nation, which indulges towards…" 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 t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.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. ... The Nation, prompted by ill-will and…” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.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. ... The Nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of Nations has been the victim.”” [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’s emotional attachments—hatred or affection—can enslave it, leading to irrational policies and war, undermining liberty and peace. **In simple terms:** Emotions can dominate national decisions. Key Takeaway Guard against collective bias. Themes politics emotion war freedom leadership Mood cautionary serious Type historical political When to use this quote - policy drafting - diplomacy - public discourse - education Key Concepts Collective psychology national interest moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can keep policy rational? - How can societies temper collective passions? A Different Perspective Rational debate may be suppressed by strong sentiment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) [Animosity Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity-nation-3715355/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Habitual Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habitual-hatred-3715354/) [Hatred Habitual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-habitual-3715356/) [International relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-relations/) [Nation Indulges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-indulges-3715357/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“The nation which indulges toward another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-nation-which-indulges-toward-another-a-habitual-hatred-or-a/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-nation-which-indulges-towards-another-an-habitual-hatred-or-an-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiment in religion appear to be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-animosities-which-have-existed-among-mankind-those-which-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Let me now warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party. The common and continual mischiefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/let-me-now-warn-you-in-the-most-solemn-manner-against-the-baneful/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [ \[The spirit of party\] serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-spirit-of-party-serves-always-to-distract-the-public-councils-and/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The tribute that is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-tribute-that-is-due-to-the-talents-the-rectitude-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-animosities-which-have-existed-among-mankind-those-which/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A tribute . . . is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism, which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-tribute-is-due-to-the-talents-the-rectitude-and-the-patriotism/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“No matter how powerful hate seems, it cannot usurp the throne of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-powerful-hate-seems-it-cannot-usurp-the-throne-of-love/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [You look out into the audience and you see so much joy on people's faces. You make eye contact with people who are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-look-out-into-the-audience-and-you-see-so-much-joy-on-people-s/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [Life Appears To Be Too Short To Be Spent In Nursing Animosity Or Registering Wrong...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/life-appears-to-be-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [We live in a country where there is a lot of animosity. If your politics is radical it antagonises. People might think I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-live-in-a-country-where-there-is-a-lot-of-animosity-if-your/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## More by George Washington > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Explore all 801 George Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More Animosity quotes > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [We live in a country where there is a lot of animosity. If your politics is radical it antagonises. People might think I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-live-in-a-country-where-there-is-a-lot-of-animosity-if-your/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [Life Appears To Be Too Short To Be Spent In Nursing Animosity Or Registering Wrong...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/life-appears-to-be-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [You look out into the audience and you see so much joy on people's faces. You make eye contact with people who are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-look-out-into-the-audience-and-you-see-so-much-joy-on-people-s/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“No matter how powerful hate seems, it cannot usurp the throne of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-powerful-hate-seems-it-cannot-usurp-the-throne-of-love/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“You could start a fire with the heat between you two." "You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-could-start-a-fire-with-the-heat-between-you-two-you-re-mistaking/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [But if you should take the bond of goodwill out of the universe no house or city could stand, nor would even the tillage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/but-if-you-should-take-the-bond-of-goodwill-out-of-the-universe-no/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It is extremely interesting to me that black males, and other black folk, are viewed as self-pitying, by either other blacks who have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-extremely-interesting-to-me-that-black-males-and-other-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [The second effort was spreading the word among the people, first, in a bid to raise their morale, and second to instil in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/the-second-effort-was-spreading-the-word-among-the-people-first-in-a/) [Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/) > [I've been in and out of Wall Street since 1949, and I've never seen the type of animosity between government and Wall Street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-ve-been-in-and-out-of-wall-street-since-1949-and-i-ve-never-seen/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“The Europeans hate us because we’ve retired to live inside our advertisements, like hermits going into caves to contemplate. We sleep in symbolic bedrooms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/the-europeans-hate-us-because-we-ve-retired-to-live-inside-our/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [“You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-re-mistaking-bitter-animosity-for-heartfelt-affection/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [What I learned about acting, from my experiences directing, is why so many producers and directors don't like actors. You go through all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/what-i-learned-about-acting-from-my-experiences-directing-is-why-so/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) [Browse all 187 Animosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. ... The Nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of Nations has been the victim.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-nation-which-indulges-towards-another-an-habitual-hatred-or-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animosity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-nation-which-indulges-towards-another-an-habitual-hatred-or-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/george-washington-257_freedom_the-nation-which-indulges-towards-anothe_1217399.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a…” — George Washington", "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": "George Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Nation, which indulges towards another...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-nation-which-indulges-towards-another-an-habitual-hatred-or-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-nation-which-indulges-towards-another-an-habitual-hatred-or-an/#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 } } ] } ```