--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not cross this room to reform…" description: "\"“I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium... - but man as part of a movement or a crowd i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg" --- # I would not cross this room to reform parliament or… ![“I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium... - but man as part of a movement or a crowd is ... inhuman... the only feelings I have are for men as individuals; my loyalties, such as they may be, are to private persons alone… Patriotism is…” quote by Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg) > ““I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium... - but man as part of a movement or a crowd is ... inhuman... the only feelings I have are for men as individuals; my loyalties, such as they may be, are to private persons alone… Patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”” [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker rejects collective causes, emphasizing loyalty to individuals over abstract patriotism, viewing mass movements as dehumanizing. **In simple terms:** Prefers personal loyalty over nationalistic or group identity. Key Takeaway Value personal relationships above abstract ideologies. Themes loyalty individualism patriotism humanity politics Mood critical philosophical skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - personal relationships - ethical decision making Key Concepts individual rights skepticism of nationalism ethical autonomy Questions to Reflect On - Is individual loyalty always superior to collective good? - What are the risks of rejecting all group affiliations? A Different Perspective The view may ignore benefits of collective action and shared identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Loyalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalties/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) ## Related quotes > [“Patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally-comes-to-mean-either-my/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [My dear creature, I have done with all debate. But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/my-dear-creature-i-have-done-with-all-debate-but-you-know-as-well-as/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-you-know-as-well-as-i-patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [ \[W\]e're taught that if one person kills another person, that is murder; but if a government kills a hundred thousand persons, that is patriotism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/w-e-re-taught-that-if-one-person-kills-another-person-that-is-murder/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Patriotism is a word which represents a noble idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/patriotism-is-a-word-which-represents-a-noble-idea/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Patriotism is a word which always commemorates a robbery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/patriotism-is-a-word-which-always-commemorates-a-robbery/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [ \[Patriotism\] ...is a word which always commemorates a robbery. There isn't a foot of land in the world which doesn't represent the ousting and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/patriotism-is-a-word-which-always-commemorates-a-robbery-there-isn-t/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“But, however, I clapped a stopper over his capers.’ Dr Maturin was proud of his nautical expressions: sometimes he got them right, but right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-however-i-clapped-a-stopper-over-his-capers-dr-maturin-was-proud/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [No important change in ethics was ever accomplished without an internal chage in our intellectual emphasis, loyalties, affections, and convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/no-important-change-in-ethics-was-ever-accomplished-without-an/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [“Your loyalties are indecisive at best. You know what that makes you, big boy?’ ‘Definitely a Gemini.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-m-farrugia/your-loyalties-are-indecisive-at-best-you-know-what-that-makes-you/) [Nathan M. Farrugia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-m-farrugia/) > [Always question where your loyalties lie. The people you trust will expect it, your greatest enemies will desire it and those you trust the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/always-question-where-your-loyalties-lie-the-people-you-trust-will/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [“I was hers in ways that those with loyalties of convenience cannot fathom. I loved her beyond words and clothes, and yes beyond even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-livingston/i-was-hers-in-ways-that-those-with-loyalties-of-convenience-cannot/) Sonja Livingston > [It takes a major unhappiness, a prolonged and bitter experience, to drive us away from loyalties once formed. And sometimes no amount of punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-major-unhappiness-a-prolonged-and-bitter-experience-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She’s a bargirl. You don’t know where her loyalties lie. That one was unconvincing. No one had directed her against me—I was the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/she-s-a-bargirl-you-don-t-know-where-her-loyalties-lie-that-one-was/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr-2/conservatism-aims-to-maintain-in-working-order-the-loyalties-of-the/) [William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr-2/) ## More by Patrick O'Brian > [“Christ's blood in heaven, you ignorant, incompetent whey-faced nestlecock, do you think I am a hired spy, an informer? That I have a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/christ-s-blood-in-heaven-you-ignorant-incompetent-whey-faced/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“To tell the truth, sir, I believe I had rather sit in the shelter for a while. The cabbage seems to have turned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/to-tell-the-truth-sir-i-believe-i-had-rather-sit-in-the-shelter-for-a/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Never mind the disappointment. Salt water will wash it away. You will be amazed how unimportant it will seem in a week’s time –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/never-mind-the-disappointment-salt-water-will-wash-it-away-you-will/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“The weather had freshened almost to coldness, for the wind was coming more easterly, from the chilly currents between Tristan and the Cape; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-weather-had-freshened-almost-to-coldness-for-the-wind-was-coming/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Of course I do know it is the French who are so wicked; but there are all these people who keep coming and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/of-course-i-do-know-it-is-the-french-who-are-so-wicked-but-there-are/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [My wife and I have spent most of our lives in France, and we are both pretty well bilingual, my wife more purely than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/my-wife-and-i-have-spent-most-of-our-lives-in-france-and-we-are-both/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/this-short-watch-that-is-about-to-come-or-rather-these-two-short/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [The function of the novel is the exploration of the human condition. Really, that's what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-function-of-the-novel-is-the-exploration-of-the-human-condition/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [It is a great while since I felt the grind of bone under my saw,' he added, smiling with anticipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-is-a-great-while-since-i-felt-the-grind-of-bone-under-my-saw-he/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/other-people-s-marriages-are-a-perpetual-source-of-amazement/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“But I will tell you another misery that is not to be denied. In the common, natural course of events physicians, surgeons and apothecaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-i-will-tell-you-another-misery-that-is-not-to-be-denied-in-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Yet,'said Maturin, pursuing his own thought, 'there is a quality in dogs, I must confess, rarely to be seen elsewhere and that is affection:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/yet-said-maturin-pursuing-his-own-thought-there-is-a-quality-in-dogs/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Physically he was tired and his body relaxed throughout its entire length; his mind was in much the same state, floating free, detached, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/physically-he-was-tired-and-his-body-relaxed-throughout-its-entire/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“It was quite unlike their friendly discourse of some days before, and presently Stephen grew sadly bored: lies or half-lies, he reflected, had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-quite-unlike-their-friendly-discourse-of-some-days-before-and/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“it would be the Devil to pay and no pitch hot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-would-be-the-devil-to-pay-and-no-pitch-hot/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) [Explore all 167 Patrick O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## More Loyalties quotes > [“Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr-2/conservatism-aims-to-maintain-in-working-order-the-loyalties-of-the/) [William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr-2/) > [“She’s a bargirl. You don’t know where her loyalties lie. That one was unconvincing. No one had directed her against me—I was the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/she-s-a-bargirl-you-don-t-know-where-her-loyalties-lie-that-one-was/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [It takes a major unhappiness, a prolonged and bitter experience, to drive us away from loyalties once formed. And sometimes no amount of punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-major-unhappiness-a-prolonged-and-bitter-experience-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was hers in ways that those with loyalties of convenience cannot fathom. I loved her beyond words and clothes, and yes beyond even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-livingston/i-was-hers-in-ways-that-those-with-loyalties-of-convenience-cannot/) Sonja Livingston > [Always question where your loyalties lie. The people you trust will expect it, your greatest enemies will desire it and those you trust the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/always-question-where-your-loyalties-lie-the-people-you-trust-will/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [“Your loyalties are indecisive at best. You know what that makes you, big boy?’ ‘Definitely a Gemini.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-m-farrugia/your-loyalties-are-indecisive-at-best-you-know-what-that-makes-you/) [Nathan M. Farrugia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-m-farrugia/) > [No important change in ethics was ever accomplished without an internal chage in our intellectual emphasis, loyalties, affections, and convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/no-important-change-in-ethics-was-ever-accomplished-without-an/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-we-are-to-survive-our-loyalties-must-be-broadened-further-to/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [When I got the money, the whole burden descended on me, and the realization of what I had done. And it led me then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldrich-ames/when-i-got-the-money-the-whole-burden-descended-on-me-and-the/) [Aldrich Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldrich-ames/) > [They were governed by private loyalties which they did not question. What mattered were individual relationships, and a completely helpless gesture, an embrace, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/they-were-governed-by-private-loyalties-which-they-did-not-question/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Throughout human history, people have developed strong loyalties to traditions, rituals, and symbols. In the most effective organizations, they are not only respected but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/throughout-human-history-people-have-developed-strong-loyalties-to/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [“Human history can be viewed as a slowly dawning awareness that we are members of a larger group. Initially our loyalties were to ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/human-history-can-be-viewed-as-a-slowly-dawning-awareness-that-we-are/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Every individual is a meeting ground for many different allegiances, and sometimes these loyalties conflict with one another and confront the person who harbors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amin-maalouf/every-individual-is-a-meeting-ground-for-many-different-allegiances/) [Amin Maalouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amin-maalouf/) > [“In the human world you had to choose your loyalties carefully. You had to see through to someone's heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/in-the-human-world-you-had-to-choose-your-loyalties-carefully-you-had/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“I can’t divide Camille’s loyalties. Who knows? He might make the wrong choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-can-t-divide-camille-s-loyalties-who-knows-he-might-make-the-wrong/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) [Browse all 41 Loyalties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium... - but man as part of a movement or a crowd is ... inhuman... the only feelings I have are for men as individuals; my loyalties, such as they may be, are to private persons alone… Patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick O'Brian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-parliament-or-prevent-the-union/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Loyalties" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-parliament-or-prevent-the-union/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/patrick-o-brian-2283_loyalties_i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-pa_3051278.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium…” — Patrick O'Brian", "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": "Patrick O'Brian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I would not cross this room...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-parliament-or-prevent-the-union/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-parliament-or-prevent-the-union/#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 } } ] } ```