--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think it's patriotic to put on a…" description: "\"I don't think it's patriotic to put on a flight suit and prance around on the deck of an aircraft carrier looking for a photo op. We have a president o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51a/wesley-clark-7521_aircraft_i-don-t-think-it-s-patriotic-to-put-on-a_2680882.jpg" --- # I don't think it's patriotic to put on a flight suit and… ![“I don't think it's patriotic to put on a flight suit and prance around on the deck of an aircraft carrier looking for a photo op. We have a president of the United States who did not do his duty to take care of America. If you're patriotic, you do your duty.” quote by Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51a/wesley-clark-7521_aircraft_i-don-t-think-it-s-patriotic-to-put-on-a_2680882.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51a/wesley-clark-7521_aircraft_i-don-t-think-it-s-patriotic-to-put-on-a_2680882.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51a/wesley-clark-7521_aircraft_i-don-t-think-it-s-patriotic-to-put-on-a_2680882.jpg) > “I don't think it's patriotic to put on a flight suit and prance around on the deck of an aircraft carrier looking for a photo op. We have a president of the United States who did not do his duty to take care of America. If you're patriotic, you do your duty.” [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patriotism is shown by fulfilling responsibilities, not by symbolic gestures; true duty matters more than appearances. **In simple terms:** Patriotism means doing your duty, not just looking patriotic. Key Takeaway Focus on fulfilling responsibilities. Themes patriotism duty leadership Mood critical reflective Type political commentary When to use this quote - military service - public office - community involvement - political activism Key Concepts civic responsibility symbolic actions Questions to Reflect On - What duties define your patriotism? - How do you balance symbolism with action? A Different Perspective Symbolic acts can distract from substantive duty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aircraft carriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aircraft-carriers/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [America has an almost obscene infatuation with itself. Has there ever been a big, powerful country that is as patriotic as America? 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Most video-technologies and technologies of simulation have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/if-you-look-at-the-gulf-war-or-new-military-technologies-they-are/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [Did we put our kids in 0.5-mile-per-gallon (mpg) tanks and 17 feet per gallon aircraft carriers because we failed to put them in 32-mpg cars?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-lovins/did-we-put-our-kids-in-0-5-mile-per-gallon-mpg-tanks-and-17-feet-per/) Hunter Lovins > [I stand by this man (President George W. Bush). I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-stand-by-this-man-president-george-w-bush-i-stand-by-this-man/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [According to Ferguson, grey things are invisible. 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Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Is it likely that an aircraft carrier or a cruise missile is going to find a person?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/is-it-likely-that-an-aircraft-carrier-or-a-cruise-missile-is-going-to/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I'm trying to move an aircraft carrier here, I'm not just steering the speedboat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-trying-to-move-an-aircraft-carrier-here-i-m-not-just-steering-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Changing the direction of a large company is like trying to turn an aircraft carrier. It takes a mile before anything happens. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/changing-the-direction-of-a-large-company-is-like-trying-to-turn-an/) [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) > [Strangely enough, politics may just be the one realm in which having kids imposes no penalty on women. Kids are practically a necessity. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/strangely-enough-politics-may-just-be-the-one-realm-in-which-having/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [ They \[China\] have indicated that they’re trying to develop nuclear capability and they want to develop more aircraft carriers like we have. So yes,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/they-china-have-indicated-that-they-re-trying-to-develop-nuclear/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) ## More by Wesley Clark > [I like Hilary Clinton. I think she's - she's a fantastic leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/i-like-hilary-clinton-i-think-she-s-she-s-a-fantastic-leader/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [Maybe it's because I've never been in politics, but I don't believe that America is run by politicians in Washington. I believe it's run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/maybe-it-s-because-i-ve-never-been-in-politics-but-i-don-t-believe/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [When we started after Osama bin Laden, we really decided to go after the Taliban. And we seemed to be content to kick the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/when-we-started-after-osama-bin-laden-we-really-decided-to-go-after/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He's had those for a long time. 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We have a president of the United States who did not do his duty to take care of America. 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