--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one's patriotism is merely instinctive…" description: "\"If one's patriotism is merely instinctive it is irrational and irresponsible, and consequently a danger to one's country.\" — Paul Monroe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png" --- # If one's patriotism is merely instinctive it is irrational… ![“If one's patriotism is merely instinctive it is irrational and irresponsible, and consequently a danger to one's country.” quote by Paul Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png) > “If one's patriotism is merely instinctive it is irrational and irresponsible, and consequently a danger to one's country.” [Paul Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patriotism based only on instinct lacks reason, making it irresponsible and dangerous to the nation. **In simple terms:** Instinctual patriotism is irrational and risky. Key Takeaway Cultivate reasoned, responsible patriotism. Themes politics ethics national identity responsibility reason Mood serious concerned Type Country:1 Danger:1 Ifs:0 Irrational:1 Irresponsible:1 Patriotism:1 Patriotism Merely:0 Irrational Irresponsible:0 Instinctive Irrational:0 Merely Instinctive:0 Consequently Danger:1 When to use this quote - elections - public debates - policy making - community activism Key Concepts civic duty irrationality danger to state Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do citizens have beyond feeling? - How can rational patriotism be fostered? A Different Perspective Blind patriotism can fuel extremism and conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consequently Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequently-danger-1951433/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instinctive Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinctive-irrational-1951431/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Irrational Irresponsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational-irresponsible-1951430/) [Irresponsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsible/) [Merely Instinctive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-instinctive-1951432/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-merely-1951429/) ## Related quotes > [Patriotism is merely a religion-love of country, worship of country, devotion to the country's flag and honor and welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/patriotism-is-merely-a-religion-love-of-country-worship-of-country/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Patriotism is merely deeply-rooted government brand loyalty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/patriotism-is-merely-deeply-rooted-government-brand-loyalty/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The Bush administration continues to coddle China, despite its continuing crackdown on democratic reform, its brutal subjugation of Tibet, its irresponsible export of nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-bush-administration-continues-to-coddle-china-despite-its/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [A coach is often responsible to an irresponsible public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zuppke/a-coach-is-often-responsible-to-an-irresponsible-public/) [Robert Zuppke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zuppke/) > [And the point is, is it possible for the mind to be totally free from suffering and yet not become indifferent, callous, irresponsible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/and-the-point-is-is-it-possible-for-the-mind-to-be-totally-free-from/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“I do my job,” Mikodez said, “because after all the trouble I went to get it, it would be irresponsible not to.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoon-ha-lee/i-do-my-job-mikodez-said-because-after-all-the-trouble-i-went-to-get/) [Yoon Ha Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoon-ha-lee/) > [I vote Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-vote-democrat-because-i-m-way-too-irresponsible-to-own-a-gun-and-i/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [All nations that have nuclear weapons think that they are responsible and it is the other guys who are irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cirincione/all-nations-that-have-nuclear-weapons-think-that-they-are-responsible/) [Joseph Cirincione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cirincione/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [Iran, Libya and Syria are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/iran-libya-and-syria-are-irresponsible-states-which-must-be-disarmed/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) ## 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": "If one's patriotism is merely instinctive it is irrational and irresponsible, and consequently a danger to one's country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Monroe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monroe/if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctive-it-is-irrational-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monroe/if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctive-it-is-irrational-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/paul-monroe-268746_country_if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctiv_183031.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If one's patriotism is merely instinctive it is irrational and irresponsible, and consequently a danger to…” — Paul Monroe", "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": "Paul Monroe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-monroe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If one's patriotism is merely instinctive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monroe/if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctive-it-is-irrational-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monroe/if-one-s-patriotism-is-merely-instinctive-it-is-irrational-and/#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 } } ] } ```