A Quote by Ambrose Bierce

Patriotism: The first resort of a scoundrel.

Ambrose Bierce

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First Patriotism Resort Scoundrel

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Ambrose Bierce
American - Journalist
June 24, 1842 - 1914

Patriotism, n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit it is the first.

Ambrose Bierce

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

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

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Samuel Johnson

Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.

Bob Dylan

Patriotism is usually the refuge of the scoundrel. He is the man who talks the loudest.

Mark Twain

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

Coco Chanel

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

Emmett Tyrrell

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.'

Leo Tolstoy

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

There is Ontario patriotism, Quebec patriotism, or Western patriotism; each based on the hope that it may swallow up the others, but there is no Canadian patriotism, and we can have no Canadian nation when we have no Canadian patriotism.

Henri Bourassa

When I've sent young men and women into harm's way, I always understand that that is the last resort, not the first resort.

Barack Obama

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

There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.

Vladimir Lenin

Remember this, take this to heart, live by it, die for it if necessary: that our patriotism is medieval, outworn, obsolete; that the modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism, is loyalty to the Nation ALL the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.

Mark Twain

A Quote by Ambrose Bierce

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