--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We teach them to take their patriotism at…" description: "\"We teach them to take their patriotism at second-hand; to shout with the largest crowd without examining into the right or wrong of the matter -- exact..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/mark-twain-22_all-things_we-teach-them-to-take-their-patriotism-a_594997.jpg" --- # We teach them to take their patriotism at second-hand; to… ![“We teach them to take their patriotism at second-hand; to shout with the largest crowd without examining into the right or wrong of the matter -- exactly as boys under monarchies are taught and have always been taught. We teach them to regard as traitors, and hold in aversion and contempt, such as…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/mark-twain-22_all-things_we-teach-them-to-take-their-patriotism-a_594997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/mark-twain-22_all-things_we-teach-them-to-take-their-patriotism-a_594997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/mark-twain-22_all-things_we-teach-them-to-take-their-patriotism-a_594997.jpg) > “We teach them to take their patriotism at second-hand; to shout with the largest crowd without examining into the right or wrong of the matter -- exactly as boys under monarchies are taught and have always been taught. We teach them to regard as traitors, and hold in aversion and contempt, such as do not shout with the crowd, and so here in our democracy we are cheering a thing which of all things is most foreign to it and out of place -- the delivery of our political conscience into somebody else's keeping. This is patriotism on the Russian plan.” [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes blind patriotism that follows the majority without moral scrutiny, comparing it to obedience under monarchies and warning that true democracy requires independent conscience. **In simple terms:** Blind patriotism follows crowds, ignoring right and wrong. Key Takeaway Question authority, think independently. Themes patriotism conformity democracy critical thinking Mood skeptical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political rallies - educational curricula - media consumption - public debates Key Concepts moral autonomy political conscience social pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish patriotic duty from unthinking conformity? - What responsibilities do citizens have to challenge popular opinion? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex political dynamics and ignore legitimate collective action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Aversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aversion/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Delivery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delivery/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Cheering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-cheering-4861315/) [Examining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examining/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Keeping Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-patriotism-4861314/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Monarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monarchy/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Russian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-russian-4861313/) [Patriotism Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-second-4861312/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) [Second hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-hand/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-patriotism-4861311/) [Traitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitor/) ## Related quotes > [“I find that, as a rule, when a thing is a wonder to us it is not because of what we see in it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-find-that-as-a-rule-when-a-thing-is-a-wonder-to-us-it-is-not/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Nations do not think, they only feel. 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