--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A country is not only what it does but…" description: "\"A country is not only what it does but what it tolerates,\" — Kurt Tucholsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg" --- # A country is not only what it does but what it tolerates, ![“A country is not only what it does but what it tolerates,” quote by Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg) > “A country is not only what it does but what it tolerates,” [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) ## 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 character is defined not only by actions but also by what it allows to happen. **In simple terms:** Tolerance defines a nation as much as deeds. Key Takeaway Hold societies accountable for tolerated injustices. Themes civic duty political philosophy ethics Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy making - civil activism - media regulation Key Concepts social contract norms Questions to Reflect On - What should societies refuse to tolerate? - How to shift tolerated norms? A Different Perspective Tolerance can enable harmful practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-does-662768/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Does Tolerates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-tolerates-4935875/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate/) [Tolerates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerates-1060614/) ## Related quotes > [Ethically, what one generation tolerates the next may treat as normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-fletcher/ethically-what-one-generation-tolerates-the-next-may-treat-as-normal/) [Mal Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-fletcher/) > [We may as well tolerate all religions, since God Himself tolerates all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/we-may-as-well-tolerate-all-religions-since-god-himself-tolerates-all/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [This country does not punish its political enemies. What this country ensures is that no one is above the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/this-country-does-not-punish-its-political-enemies-what-this-country/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [A country which does not create children is destined to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/a-country-which-does-not-create-children-is-destined-to-die/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [This country does best when everyone gets their fair shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-country-does-best-when-everyone-gets-their-fair-shot/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our nose, and we will be forced to flee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/the-ear-disapproves-but-tolerates-certain-musical-pieces-transfer/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [“But such is the nature of the concept of tolerance. It evolves. Every generation puts its own limitations on it, and the clashes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russel-shorto/but-such-is-the-nature-of-the-concept-of-tolerance-it-evolves-every/) [Russel Shorto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russel-shorto/) > [“One who tolerates little, has to tolerate the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/one-who-tolerates-little-has-to-tolerate-the-most/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [I am so glad my wife tolerates me. And we have three wonderful sons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/i-am-so-glad-my-wife-tolerates-me-and-we-have-three-wonderful-sons/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) > [There is no protection against the kinds of influences that are loose in a society that tolerates pornography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bundy/there-is-no-protection-against-the-kinds-of-influences-that-are-loose/) [Ted Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bundy/) > [“A friend worth knowing tolerates your flaws while a friend worth keeping loves you in spite of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reinhart/a-friend-worth-knowing-tolerates-your-flaws-while-a-friend-worth/) [Kathy Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reinhart/) > [If tolerance is taken to the point where it tolerates the destruction of those same principles that made tolerance possible in the first place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaetano-mosca/if-tolerance-is-taken-to-the-point-where-it-tolerates-the-destruction/) [Gaetano Mosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaetano-mosca/) > [Love isn't the one that tolerates you, its the one that sacrifices for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deondriea-cantrice/love-isn-t-the-one-that-tolerates-you-its-the-one-that-sacrifices-for/) [Deondriea Cantrice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deondriea-cantrice/) > [Liberation tolerates no limits, be they political, cultural, religious, or even natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/liberation-tolerates-no-limits-be-they-political-cultural-religious/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [In life if you can't have the mind to tolerates others you will find life so difficult to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakre-basit-babatunde/in-life-if-you-can-t-have-the-mind-to-tolerates-others-you-will-find/) [Bakre Basit Babatunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakre-basit-babatunde/) ## More by Kurt Tucholsky > [Those who hate most fervently must have once loved deeply; those who want to deny the world must have once embraced what they now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/those-who-hate-most-fervently-must-have-once-loved-deeply-those-who/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [You should always pay attentionto quality. A coffin, for instance, should laast a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/you-should-always-pay-attentionto-quality-a-coffin-for-instance/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [The advantage of wisdom is that you can play dumb. The opposite is more difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/the-advantage-of-wisdom-is-that-you-can-play-dumb-the-opposite-is/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Each economy relies on the credit system, that is, on the erroneous assumption that the other will pay back money pumped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/each-economy-relies-on-the-credit-system-that-is-on-the-erroneous/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Expect nothing. Today: that is your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/expect-nothing-today-that-is-your-life/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [“Wie? Was? Wie?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/wie-was-wie/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [“That story always seemed very symbolic to me...Yes, but I forget what it symbolised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/that-story-always-seemed-very-symbolic-to-me-yes-but-i-forget-what-it/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [The world isn't purposeful. It isn't ruled by reason. The world wants to play. Fashion queens have always aroused more interest than future generations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/the-world-isn-t-purposeful-it-isn-t-ruled-by-reason-the-world-wants/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Germany is an anatomical oddity: it writes with its left hand and acts with its right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/germany-is-an-anatomical-oddity-it-writes-with-its-left-hand-and-acts/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [“Sie sprach so viel, dass ihre Zuhörer davon heiser wurden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/sie-sprach-so-viel-dass-ihre-zuh-rer-davon-heiser-wurden/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Nothing is more difficult and nothing requires more character than to find oneself in open opposition to ones time (and those one loves) and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/nothing-is-more-difficult-and-nothing-requires-more-character-than-to/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [One man's death: that is a catastrophe. A hundred thousand dead: that is a statistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/one-man-s-death-that-is-a-catastrophe-a-hundred-thousand-dead-that-is/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Revolution! The people howls and cries, Freedom, thats what were needing! Weve needed it for centuries, our arteries are bleeding. The stage is shaking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/revolution-the-people-howls-and-cries-freedom-thats-what-were-needing/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Language is a weapon, keep it honed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/language-is-a-weapon-keep-it-honed/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [“Kurzes Glück kann jeder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/kurzes-gl-ck-kann-jeder/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) [Explore all 18 Kurt Tucholsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [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/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A country is not only what it does but what it tolerates,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Tucholsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-what-it-tolerates/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-what-it-tolerates/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/kurt-tucholsky-20491_country_a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-w_3028450.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A country is not only what it does but what it tolerates,” — Kurt Tucholsky", "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": "Kurt Tucholsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A country is not only what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-what-it-tolerates/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/a-country-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-what-it-tolerates/#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 } } ] } ```