None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Yet some can be patriotic who have no self-respect, and sacrifice the greater to the less. They love the soil which makes their graves, but have no sympathy with the spirit which may still animate their clay. Patriotism is a maggot in their heads.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Patriotism can exist without self-respect, leading to misguided love for one's country that's rooted in superficiality.
In this quote, Thoreau critiques a form of patriotism that is devoid of true respect for oneself and one's values. He argues that a shallow or uncritical love for one's homeland may result in honoring mere physical land rather than engaging with the deeper ideals and spirit that should define genuine patriotism. In essence, he depicts this kind of patriotism as more of a foolish obsession than a noble virtue.
Themes
PatriotismSelf-RespectNationalismValuesCritique
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on nationalism, this quote can highlight the dangers of blind patriotism.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes →Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
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That grand old poem called Winter
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