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Have not I myself known five hundred living soldiers sabred into crows' meat for a piece of glazed cotton, which they call their flag; which had you sold it at any market-cross, would not have brought above three groschen?
Thomas Carlyle
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques the value placed on national symbols compared to the sacrifices made by soldiers.

Thomas Carlyle's quote reflects on the absurdity of nationalism and the high cost of war paid by soldiers for something as seemingly trivial as a flag. It questions the true worth of symbols that can incite valor and sacrifice, suggesting that the lives lost are disproportionately valued compared to the objects that represent a nation.

Themes

NationalismSacrificeSymbolismWarFlag

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech discussing the costs of war, one might use this quote to highlight the human toll versus the value of symbols.

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Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil; it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
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Clean undeniable right, clear undeniable might: either of these once ascertained puts an end to battle. All battle is a confused experiment to ascertain one and both of these.
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