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Quote by Emma Goldman

“Patriotism is a menace to liberty.”

Quote by Emma Goldman

Author

Emma Goldman was a prominent American writer, lecturer, and activist, known for her work in anarchism and feminism. Born on June 27, 1869, in Lithuania, she immigrated to the United States in her teens. Goldman's life was marked by her advocacy for workers' rights, free speech, and sexual liberation. She was a key figure in the American labor movement and the early 20th-century radical movement. Her influential writings and speaking engagements made her a leading voice in the fight for social and political change. She passed away on May 14, 1940. more

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“Patriotism is a superstition, one far more injurious, brutal and inhumane than religion.”

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Author:Gustave Herve

“But if Christianity really gives peace, and we really want peace, patriotism is a survival from barbarous times, which must not only not be evoked and educated, as we now do, but which must be eradicated by all means, by means of preaching, persuasion, contempt, and ridicule.”

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Author:Leo Tolstoy

“Seas of blood have been shed for the sake of patriotism. One would expect the harm and irrationality of patriotism to be self-evident to everyone. But the surprising fact is that cultured and learned people not only do not notice the harm and stupidity of patriotism, they resist every unveiling of it with the greatest obstinacy and passion (with no rational grounds), and continue to praise it as beneficent and elevating.”

People Has Beens Self Facts Passion Blood Sea Praise Sake Stupidity Harm Rational Patriotism Surprising Shed Evident Irrationality Obstinacy Elevating Unveiling

Author:Leo Tolstoy

“If the test of patriotism comes only by reflexively falling into lockstep behind the leader whenever the flag is waved, then what we have is a formula for dictatorship, not democracy... But the American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to accept unthinkingly the doings of government officials of this or any other country.”

“The feeling of patriotism - It is an immoral feeling because, instead of confessing himself a son of God . . . or even a free man guided by his own reason, each man under the influence of patriotism confesses himself the son of his fatherland and the slave of his government, and commits actions contrary to his reason and conscience.”

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Book:I Cannot be Silent: Writings on Politics, Art and Religion by Leo Tolstoy

Source: I Cannot be Silent: Writings on Politics, Art and Religion by Leo Tolstoy

“Patriotism in its simplest, clearest and most indubitable signification is nothing else but a means of obtaining for the rulers their ambitions and covetous desires, and for the ruled the abdication of human dignity, reason, conscience, and a slavish enthrallment to those in power.”

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Author:Leo Tolstoy

“We should take care, in inculcating patriotism into our boys and girls, that is a patriotism above the narrow sentiment which usually stops at one's country, and thus inspires jealousy and enmity in dealing with others... Our patriotism should be of the wider, nobler kind which recognises justice and reasonableness in the claims of others and which lead our country into comradeship with...the other nations of the world.”

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Author:Robert Baden-Powell

“Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may.”

“To abolish war it is necessary to abolish patriotism, and to abolish patriotism it is necessary first to understand that it is an evil. Tell people that patriotism is bad and most will reply, 'Yes, bad patriotism is bad, but mine is good patriotism.'”

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Author:Leo Tolstoy

“Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them. There is almost no kind of outrage-torture, imprisonment without trial, assassination, the bombing of civilians-which does not change its moral color when it is committed by 'our' side. The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”