Friday 13 October 2023

Patriotism vs Nationalism

 "Le patriotisme c'est l'amour des siens. Le nationalisme c'est la haine des autres. ... Si l'on retranchait du patriotisme de la plupart des hommes la haine et le mépris des autres nations, il resterait peu de choses." [Charles de Gaulle

Translation: "Patriotism is the love of one's own. Nationalism is hatred of others. ... If we extracted the hatred and contempt of other nations from the patriotism of most men, little would remain."

More simply: “Patriotism is love of one's own; nationalism is hatred of others.” [Charles de Gaulle]

“Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.” [George Orwell]

“The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.” [Sydney J. Harris]

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