A Quote by William Plomer

Patriotism is the last refuge of the sculptor.

William Plomer

Quote Topics

Last Patriotism Refuge Sculptor

Quote Author

William Plomer
South African - Novelist
December 10, 1903 - September 21, 1973

Whether or not patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, national security can be the last refuge of the tyrant.

Robert Walker, Baron Walker of Gestingthorpe

If patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, it is not merely because evil deeds may be performed in the name of patriotism, but because patriotic fervor can obliterate moral distinctions altogether.

Ralph Barton Perry

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Samuel Johnson

Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.

Bob Dylan

I have formed a very clear conception of patriotism. I have generally found it thrust into the foreground by some fellow who has something to hide in the background. I have seen a great deal of patriotism; and I have generally found it the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Gilbert K. Chesterton

Those who believe patriotism to be the last refuge of the scoundrel have underestimated compassion.

Emmett Tyrrell

What every Englishman thinks about patriotism, the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Coco Chanel

I'm an advocate of the great Dr. Johnson, the English man of letters who said that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoundrel.

George Galloway

When Dr. Johnson defined patriotism as the last refuge of a scoundrel, he ignored the enormous possibilities of the word reform.

Roscoe Conkling

Voting is the next-to-last refuge of the politically impotent. The last refuge, of course, is giving your opinion to a pollster.

Neil Postman

They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings steal a little and they throw you in jail. Steal a lot and then they make you king.

Bob Dylan

Someone said that patriotism is the last refuge of cowards; those without moral principles usually wrap a flag around themselves, and those bastards always talk about the purity of race.

Umberto Eco

PATRIOTISM, n. 1) The inability to distinguish between the government and one's 'country'; 2) A highly praiseworthy virtue characterized by the desire to dominate and kill; 3) A feeling of exultation experienced when contemplating heaps of charred 'enemy' corpses; 4) The first, last, and perennial refuge of scoundrels.

Chaz Bufe

Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live.

Rabindranath Tagore

Today one might be tempted to say that patriotism is the last refuge of the tribal religion dedicated to the worship of German, French, English and Russian Gods of Battles. Surely such a religion has nothing in common with the religion which counsels for the disciple non-resistance, unstinted forgiveness, and the elimination of all rancor?