Born Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
“When we have run through all forms of government, without partiality to that we were born under, we are at a loss with which to side; they are all a compound of good and evil. It is therefore most reasonable and safe to value that of our own country above all others, and to submit to it.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Les Caractères, 1688
Governments mix good and evil, so loyalty to one's own nation is the safest choice.
In simple terms: Governments have both good and bad; favor your own country.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize your nation's interests.
Themes
nationalism
politics
ethics
Mood
pragmatic
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- voting
- public policy
- community involvement
- international relations
Key Concepts
social contract
realism
patriotism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is blind patriotism always justified?
- How can we balance national loyalty with global responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks benefits of global cooperation and diversity.
![“Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two [good and evil].” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/519/abraham-lincoln-88_compounds_almost-every-thing-especially-of-governm_2537691.jpg)
![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
