--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patriotism is the religion of hell." description: "\"Patriotism is the religion of hell.\" — James Branch Cabell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg" --- # Patriotism is the religion of hell. ![“Patriotism is the religion of hell.” quote by James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg) > “Patriotism is the religion of hell.” [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) ## 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 portrayed as a destructive, hellish belief system that fuels conflict and suffering. **In simple terms:** Patriotism can be a harmful ideology. Key Takeaway Question loyalty that fuels harm. Themes politics identity conflict Mood critical serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - activism - education - media analysis Key Concepts nationalism ideology critique Questions to Reflect On - When does love of country become harmful? - Can patriotism be redirected positively? A Different Perspective Not all patriotic feelings are negative; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [It is an utter shame to spend millions on the sanctuaries while millions are dying of hunger! Institutional religion must go to Hell even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-is-an-utter-shame-to-spend-millions-on-the-sanctuaries-while/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Make no mistake: patriotism is a religion, the enemy of lucidity. It is pure obscurantism, an act of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/make-no-mistake-patriotism-is-a-religion-the-enemy-of-lucidity-it-is/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [When I deployed to Iraq with my fellow soldiers, putting our lives on the line for our country, no one in the media questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/when-i-deployed-to-iraq-with-my-fellow-soldiers-putting-our-lives-on/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Blind obedience in the name of patriotism or religion ultimately takes our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/blind-obedience-in-the-name-of-patriotism-or-religion-ultimately/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“patriotism and religion are the only two motives in the world which can permanently direct the whole of a body politic to one end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/patriotism-and-religion-are-the-only-two-motives-in-the-world-which/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [We must be truthful and fair in the ordinary affairs of life before we can be truthful and fair in patriotism and religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/we-must-be-truthful-and-fair-in-the-ordinary-affairs-of-life-before/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [“Patriotism and war go together. Anytime anyone gets thinking patriotism is one of the supreme virtues, it would be a good idea to remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/patriotism-and-war-go-together-anytime-anyone-gets-thinking/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) Twe Stephens > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [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 rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [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/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) ## More by James Branch Cabell > [American literature was enriched with Men Who Loved Allison … Of the actual and eventual worth of this romance I cannot pretend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/american-literature-was-enriched-with-men-who-loved-allison-of-the/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Thou shalt not offend against the notions of thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/thou-shalt-not-offend-against-the-notions-of-thy-neighbor/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Oh, do the Overlords of Life and Death always provide some obstacle to prevent what all of us have known in youth was possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/oh-do-the-overlords-of-life-and-death-always-provide-some-obstacle-to/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Creeds matter very little... The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/creeds-matter-very-little-the-optimist-proclaims-that-we-live-in-the/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [I am Manuel. I have lived in the loneliness which is common to all men, but the difference is that I have known it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/i-am-manuel-i-have-lived-in-the-loneliness-which-is-common-to-all-men/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Whatever pretended pessimists in search of notoriety may say, most people are naturally kind, at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/whatever-pretended-pessimists-in-search-of-notoriety-may-say-most/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [“That moving carcass does but very inadequately symbolizes you…a subtle and immortal spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/that-moving-carcass-does-but-very-inadequately-symbolizes-you-a/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [People never want to be told anything they do not believe already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/people-never-want-to-be-told-anything-they-do-not-believe-already/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Man alone of animals plays the ape to his dreams .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/man-alone-of-animals-plays-the-ape-to-his-dreams/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [I was born, I think, with the desire to make beautiful books — brave books that would preserve the glories of the Dream untarnished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/i-was-born-i-think-with-the-desire-to-make-beautiful-books-brave/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [There are many of our so-called captains on industry who, if the truth were told, and a shorter and uglier word were not unpermissible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/there-are-many-of-our-so-called-captains-on-industry-who-if-the-truth/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [And one would worship a woman whom all perfections dower, But the other smiles at transparent wiles; and he quotes from Schopenhauer . Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/and-one-would-worship-a-woman-whom-all-perfections-dower-but-the/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [ “...\[we\] has left nothing durable to signalize his stay upon this planet. \[we\]eventually dies to the honest regret of \[our\] associates.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/we-has-left-nothing-durable-to-signalize-his-stay-upon-this-planet-we/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Poetry is man's rebellion against being what he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/poetry-is-man-s-rebellion-against-being-what-he-is/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Here was the astounding fact: the race did go forward; the race did achieve; and in every way the race grew better. Progress through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/here-was-the-astounding-fact-the-race-did-go-forward-the-race-did/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) [Explore all 78 James Branch Cabell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) ## More Hell quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without God. How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/) Cupecake > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Hey...Hey...What's up?. Nothing much, you? Nothing. K!..What the hell was the point of this communication?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-hey-what-s-up-nothing-much-you-nothing-k-what-the-hell-was-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [It is through suppression that hells are formed in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/it-is-through-suppression-that-hells-are-formed-in-us/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) [Browse all 8,212 Hell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Patriotism is the religion of hell.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Branch Cabell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hell" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/james-branch-cabell-8751_hell_patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell-26421_2642140.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Patriotism is the religion of hell.” — James Branch Cabell", "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": "James Branch Cabell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Patriotism is the religion of hell.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/patriotism-is-the-religion-of-hell/#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 } } ] } ```