---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty…"
description: "\"Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty to Ireland. The problem is when you raise the subject of dual loyalty, many people tend to think of it in the c..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg"
---

#  Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty to Ireland. The…

![“Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty to Ireland. The problem is when you raise the subject of dual loyalty, many people tend to think of it in the context of the old anti-Semitic canard and making the argument that Jews are disloyal to the U.S.” quote by John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg)

> “Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty to Ireland. The problem is when you raise the subject of dual loyalty, many people tend to think of it in the context of the old anti-Semitic canard and making the argument that Jews are disloyal to the U.S.”

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

## About This Quote

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

Loyalty can be split, but accusations often misuse historical prejudice.

**In simple terms:** Dual loyalty exists; beware of anti‑Jewish bias.

Key Takeaway

Address loyalty without prejudice.

Themes

politics identity loyalty prejudice

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

political academic

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- immigration policy
- community integration
- academic discourse

Key Concepts

international relations ethics history

Questions to Reflect On

- How to discuss dual loyalty fairly?
- What safeguards prevent prejudice?

A Different Perspective

Risk of reinforcing stereotypes; nuanced discussion needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dual Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dual-loyalty-3151310/) [Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Irish Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish-loyalty-3175583/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Loyalty Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty-ireland-3175584/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [I grew up thinking of myself as an American but also, because of my parents and the Iranian culture that was in our home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/i-grew-up-thinking-of-myself-as-an-american-but-also-because-of-my/)

[Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/)

> [I was born in Iran, left at a very young age-less than a year old-and grew up and was educated in the West. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/i-was-born-in-iran-left-at-a-very-young-age-less-than-a-year-old-and/)

[Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/)

> [So many people in this country have a dual loyalty. They have loyalty to America, but they also are determined to have their parade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/so-many-people-in-this-country-have-a-dual-loyalty-they-have-loyalty/)

[Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/)

> [Ireland is a small but insuppressible island half an hour nearer the sunset than Great Britain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kettle/ireland-is-a-small-but-insuppressible-island-half-an-hour-nearer-the/)

[Tom Kettle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kettle/)

> [Yes, but also one of the problems for a novelist in Ireland is the fact that there are no formal manners. I mean some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/yes-but-also-one-of-the-problems-for-a-novelist-in-ireland-is-the/)

[John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/)

> [Geographically, Ireland is a medium-sized rural island that is slowly but steadily being consumed by sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/geographically-ireland-is-a-medium-sized-rural-island-that-is-slowly/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [I feel like the luckiest child in the world because I got to grow up in Ireland. In summer is when you really grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/i-feel-like-the-luckiest-child-in-the-world-because-i-got-to-grow-up/)

[Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/)

> [I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-higgins/i-love-our-shared-island-our-shared-ireland-and-its-core-decency-i/)

[Michael D. Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-higgins/)

> [“It is an ancient land, honoured in the archives of civilisation. Every great European race has sent its stream to the river of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-davis/it-is-an-ancient-land-honoured-in-the-archives-of-civilisation-every/)

[Thomas Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-davis/)

> [Ireland and England are like two sisters; I would have them embrace like one brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyle-roche/ireland-and-england-are-like-two-sisters-i-would-have-them-embrace/)

[Boyle Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyle-roche/)

> [“He decides it is better to die in Ireland than in Paris because in Ireland the outdoors looks like the outdoors and gravestones are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-macleod/he-decides-it-is-better-to-die-in-ireland-than-in-paris-because-in/)

[Alison MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-macleod/)

> [“I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-think-being-a-woman-is-like-being-irish-everyone-says-you-re/)

[Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/)

> [“Do you know what Ireland is?' asked Stephen with cold violence. 'Ireland is the old sow that eats her farrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/do-you-know-what-ireland-is-asked-stephen-with-cold-violence-ireland/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/)

[John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/)

> [“Ireland is probably named the “Emerald Isle” because there are lots of precious stones found there, such as sapphires and rubies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/ireland-is-probably-named-the-emerald-isle-because-there-are-lots-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More by John Mearsheimer

> [Since the mid-1990s, Russian leaders have adamantly opposed NATO enlargement, and in recent years, they have made it clear that they would not stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/since-the-mid-1990s-russian-leaders-have-adamantly-opposed-nato/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [The unpleasant truth is that some borders are untenable and preserving them causes conflict, not peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/the-unpleasant-truth-is-that-some-borders-are-untenable-and/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [Decapitation is a fanciful strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/decapitation-is-a-fanciful-strategy/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [Great powers react harshly when distant rivals project military power into their neighborhood, much less attempt to make a country on their border an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/great-powers-react-harshly-when-distant-rivals-project-military-power/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [I hate sleeping in the woods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/i-hate-sleeping-in-the-woods/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [When the United States worked to contain the Soviet Union during the Cold War, we went to enormous lengths to get as many countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/when-the-united-states-worked-to-contain-the-soviet-union-during-the/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [The central aim of American foreign policy has traditionally been to dominate the western hemisphere while not permitting another great power to dominate Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/the-central-aim-of-american-foreign-policy-has-traditionally-been-to/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [Nuclear weapons are the ideal middle-class weapons for Americans. They provide massive amounts of deterrence on the cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/nuclear-weapons-are-the-ideal-middle-class-weapons-for-americans-they/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [States have two kinds of power: latent power and military power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/states-have-two-kinds-of-power-latent-power-and-military-power/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [Erosion of sovereignty is one more reason a powerful state with a liberal foreign policy ends up fighting never ending wars and fostering militarism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/erosion-of-sovereignty-is-one-more-reason-a-powerful-state-with-a/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [Simply put, the most powerful state is the one that prevails in a dispute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/simply-put-the-most-powerful-state-is-the-one-that-prevails-in-a/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [What disappoints me about Obama is that, when he came into office, he gave the impression he was going to reduce America's global commitments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/what-disappoints-me-about-obama-is-that-when-he-came-into-office-he/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [The question of whether or not the United States or any other great power should expand, should pursue regional hegemony, or pursue global hegemony,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/the-question-of-whether-or-not-the-united-states-or-any-other-great/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [The more closely any ism accords with human nature, the more relevance it will have in the real world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/the-more-closely-any-ism-accords-with-human-nature-the-more-relevance/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

> [Offensive realism predicts that the United States will send its army across the Atlantic when there is a potential hegemon in Europe that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/offensive-realism-predicts-that-the-united-states-will-send-its-army/)

[John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

[Explore all 121 John Mearsheimer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/)

## More Ireland quotes

> [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [I nominate the Reverend Ian Paisley for the position of First Minister of northern Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/i-nominate-the-reverend-ian-paisley-for-the-position-of-first/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [“Ireland is probably named the “Emerald Isle” because there are lots of precious stones found there, such as sapphires and rubies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/ireland-is-probably-named-the-emerald-isle-because-there-are-lots-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/)

[John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/)

> [“Do you know what Ireland is?' asked Stephen with cold violence. 'Ireland is the old sow that eats her farrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/do-you-know-what-ireland-is-asked-stephen-with-cold-violence-ireland/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [The cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland, and the cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/the-cause-of-labour-is-the-cause-of-ireland-and-the-cause-of-ireland/)

[James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/)

> [I love playing in Ireland and I've had great support here, like I get everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/i-love-playing-in-ireland-and-i-ve-had-great-support-here-like-i-get/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

> [Ireland's always going to be my home, but so much is filmed in L.A., so you have to spend time out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bolger/ireland-s-always-going-to-be-my-home-but-so-much-is-filmed-in-l-a-so/)

[Sarah Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bolger/)

> [Home, for me, is with the people who I really love - whether that's in England with my family, Ireland with my relatives, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-merton/home-for-me-is-with-the-people-who-i-really-love-whether-that-s-in/)

[Alice Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-merton/)

> [“The host is rushing 'twixt day and night, And where is there hope or deed as fair? Caoilte tossing his burning hair, And Niamh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/the-host-is-rushing-twixt-day-and-night-and-where-is-there-hope-or/)

[W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/)

> [I'm a massive Greggs fan! I never actually knew about Greggs when I lived over in Ireland but the minute I came over everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/i-m-a-massive-greggs-fan-i-never-actually-knew-about-greggs-when-i/)

[Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/)

> [In Ireland there’s no such thing as bad weather ~~~ only the wrong clothes. (In the Company of Others)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/in-ireland-there-s-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather-only-the-wrong/)

[Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/)

> [They call them the haunted shores, these stretches of Devonshire and Cornwall and Ireland which rear up against the westward ocean. Mists gather here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/they-call-them-the-haunted-shores-these-stretches-of-devonshire-and/)

[Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/)

[Browse all 1,147 Ireland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty to Ireland. The problem is when you raise the subject of dual loyalty, many people tend to think of it in the context of the old anti-Semitic canard and making the argument that Jews are disloyal to the U.S.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Mearsheimer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty-to-ireland-the-problem-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ireland"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty-to-ireland-the-problem-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/john-mearsheimer-3817_ireland_someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty_1140360.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Someone who is Irish can have a loyalty to Ireland. The problem is when you raise the subject of dual…” — John Mearsheimer",
                "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": "John Mearsheimer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Someone who is Irish can have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty-to-ireland-the-problem-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/someone-who-is-irish-can-have-a-loyalty-to-ireland-the-problem-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
