--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patriotism is a word; and one that…" description: "\"“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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png" --- # Patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean… ![“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.” quote by Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png) > ““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. Patriotism often reduces complex national identity to blind loyalty or harsh criticism, ignoring nuance. **In simple terms:** Patriotism is oversimplified. Key Takeaway Seek nuanced understanding of country. Themes national identity loyalty critical thinking Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political debate - education - media analysis - public policy Key Concepts political philosophy identity theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance pride and critique? - What defines healthy patriotism? A Different Perspective Patriotism can be manipulated for propaganda. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [“I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium... - but man as part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-would-not-cross-this-room-to-reform-parliament-or-prevent-the-union/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [ \[Patriotism\] ...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/) > [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 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/) > [So you say you're country ,but what does country mean to u. when u mean country u mean country in the heart or country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrcountry/so-you-say-you-re-country-but-what-does-country-mean-to-u-when-u-mean/) MrCountry > [I mean this country is all about second chances. Look at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/i-mean-this-country-is-all-about-second-chances-look-at-me/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I mean, the country was founded on free enterprise. There's good things about it, and there's obviously bad things about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-mean-the-country-was-founded-on-free-enterprise-there-s-good-things/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [Country ain't a title. It's a way of living and thinkin' you country don't mean you country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/country-ain-t-a-title-it-s-a-way-of-living-and-thinkin-you-country/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I mean, if the country's in the middle of a war of something, I probably wouldn't go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/i-mean-if-the-country-s-in-the-middle-of-a-war-of-something-i/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [Reason doesn't mean very much in a country like North Korea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/reason-doesn-t-mean-very-much-in-a-country-like-north-korea/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [“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/) > [The major caveat in all of comedy is that it's all instinctive. There's no true criteria. There is no right or wrong. Ultimately, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-charles/the-major-caveat-in-all-of-comedy-is-that-it-s-all-instinctive-there/) [Larry Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-charles/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) ## 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 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 > [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": "“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/patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally-comes-to-mean-either-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patriotism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally-comes-to-mean-either-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2d/patrick-o-brian-2283_patriotism_patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-genera_404177.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is…” — 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": "“Patriotism is a word; and one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally-comes-to-mean-either-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/patriotism-is-a-word-and-one-that-generally-comes-to-mean-either-my/#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 } } ] } ```