--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m sure whoever first started…" description: "\"“I’m sure whoever first started questioning their political opponents’ patriotism thought they were being quite clever.”\" — Paolo Bacigalupi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg" --- # I’m sure whoever first started questioning their political… ![“I’m sure whoever first started questioning their political opponents’ patriotism thought they were being quite clever.” quote by Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg) > ““I’m sure whoever first started questioning their political opponents’ patriotism thought they were being quite clever.”” [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning opponents' patriotism is a clever but superficial tactic that avoids substantive debate. **In simple terms:** Attacking patriotism is a shallow argument. Key Takeaway Focus on ideas, not labels. Themes political discourse tactics patriotism critical thinking Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debates - social media discussions - policy analysis Key Concepts rhetoric logic media strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can we discuss politics without resorting to patriotism attacks? - What are better ways to critique ideas? A Different Perspective May underestimate genuine patriotism in opponents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opponents Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents-patriotism-2491298/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-thought-2491299/) [Questioning Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questioning-political-2491300/) [Started Questioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-questioning-2491301/) ## Related quotes > [“Truths turn into dogmas the instant that they are disputed. Thus every man who utters a doubt defines a religion. And the scepticism of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/truths-turn-into-dogmas-the-instant-that-they-are-disputed-thus-every-2/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Why is patriotism thought to be blind loyalty to the government and the politicians who run it, rather than loyalty to the principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/why-is-patriotism-thought-to-be-blind-loyalty-to-the-government-and/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Chapter one we started happy The second that you said you loved me Started questioning us, are we really in love Trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-cchan-2/chapter-one-we-started-happy-the-second-that-you-said-you-loved-me/) [AaRon\_CcHan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-cchan-2/) > [I think it's high time we started questioning the old cliches like "Grunt big for Daddy."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-it-s-high-time-we-started-questioning-the-old-cliches-like/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I'm only 16 years old and I've already started questioning the meaning of life. Fantastic. Just bloody fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/i-m-only-16-years-old-and-i-ve-already-started-questioning-the/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [My parents started questioning me about whether or not I was transgender - whether or not I was trying to be a woman. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-charles/my-parents-started-questioning-me-about-whether-or-not-i-was/) [James Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-charles/) > [When I was on the 'Knock Madness' tour, I was just thinking about life; I started questioning God. I was praying a lot. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hopsin/when-i-was-on-the-knock-madness-tour-i-was-just-thinking-about-life-i/) [Hopsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hopsin/) > [I was 13 when I was started questioning and 16 when I stopped believing in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-was-13-when-i-was-started-questioning-and-16-when-i-stopped/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Chapter 1 we started happening, 2nd you said you loved me, started questioning us are we really in love? trying to figure out chapter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/chapter-1-we-started-happening-2nd-you-said-you-loved-me-started/) [Cuts And Scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuts-and-scars/) > [For reasons I can't remember, my family eventually stopped attending church, and I started questioning the Catholic Church's beliefs. I dabbled a little, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/for-reasons-i-can-t-remember-my-family-eventually-stopped-attending/) [Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/) > [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 Paolo Bacigalupi > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“How did you find truth when everyone was talking about sides?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/how-did-you-find-truth-when-everyone-was-talking-about-sides/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“At the time, he told his children to watch themselves, to understand that the tides of conservatism came and went and if they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/at-the-time-he-told-his-children-to-watch-themselves-to-understand/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [The future looks a bit bleak to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/the-future-looks-a-bit-bleak-to-me/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“Doctor Mahfouz was always yammering on about how everyone had humanity in them. From Mahlia’s experience, the doctor was sliding high, but now, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/doctor-mahfouz-was-always-yammering-on-about-how-everyone-had/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Politics is ugly. Never doubt what small men will do for great power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/politics-is-ugly-never-doubt-what-small-men-will-do-for-great-power/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“Believing is for Santa Claus, right? It's for Tooth Fairies. It's for your boyfriend when he says he's never met anyone like you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/believing-is-for-santa-claus-right-it-s-for-tooth-fairies-it-s-for/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Never beg for mercy. Accept that you have failed. Begging is for dogs and humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/never-beg-for-mercy-accept-that-you-have-failed-begging-is-for-dogs/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“Half-men don’t fight like people. More like hurricanes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/half-men-don-t-fight-like-people-more-like-hurricanes/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“Maybe it will die on its own, a hopeful voice whispered, but the general suppressed the thought. Wishes were for victims.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/maybe-it-will-die-on-its-own-a-hopeful-voice-whispered-but-the/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [I used to love reading, but since I've started writing, it's harder for me to immerse, because I spend so much time looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/i-used-to-love-reading-but-since-i-ve-started-writing-it-s-harder-for/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Sex and hypocrisy. They go together like coffee and cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/sex-and-hypocrisy-they-go-together-like-coffee-and-cream/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“Crew up, Nailer!" Lucky Girl shouted. "You think I'm going to pull your ass up here like a damn swank?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/crew-up-nailer-lucky-girl-shouted-you-think-i-m-going-to-pull-your/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“There were times when he'd told her that every star was a bit of gold that was hers for the taking, because she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/there-were-times-when-he-d-told-her-that-every-star-was-a-bit-of-gold/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“The theater of operation built itself in Tool’s mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/the-theater-of-operation-built-itself-in-tool-s-mind/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) [Explore all 140 Paolo Bacigalupi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) ## More Patriotism quotes > [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 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Patriotism is a fierce love for the nation’s soul - its land, its people, its core, coupled with a burning contempt for a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/njau-kihia/patriotism-is-a-fierce-love-for-the-nation-s-soul-its-land-its-people/) [Njau Kihia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/njau-kihia/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Cricket, politics, and cinema is what a majority in our country are most passionate about. They have the power to divide the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/cricket-politics-and-cinema-is-what-a-majority-in-our-country-are/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I will do everything I can always for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-massa/i-will-do-everything-i-can-always-for-my-country/) [Felipe Massa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-massa/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) [Browse all 5,882 Patriotism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’m sure whoever first started questioning their political opponents’ patriotism thought they were being quite clever.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paolo Bacigalupi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioning-their-political-opponents/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patriotism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioning-their-political-opponents/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/paolo-bacigalupi-3095_patriotism_i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioni_1048267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I’m sure whoever first started questioning their political opponents’ patriotism thought they were being…” — Paolo Bacigalupi", "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": "Paolo Bacigalupi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I’m sure whoever first started questioning...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioning-their-political-opponents/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/i-m-sure-whoever-first-started-questioning-their-political-opponents/#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 } } ] } ```