''My Country, right or wrong is a thing that no patriot would think of saying, except in a desperate case. It is like saying 'My mother, drunk or sober.''
G K Chesterton (1874 - 1936)
Chesterton considered himself a mere "rollicking journalist," though he was actually a prolific and gifted writer in virtually every area of literature. A man of strong opinions and enormously talented at defending them, his exuberant personality nevertheless allowed him to maintain warm friendships with people such as George Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells with whom he vehemently disagreed. Indeed a very British writer.
5 comments:
I don't understand that quote!
Orwell understood it!
Well I don't!
Perhaps you should read Orwell's 'My Country right or Wrong'
The quote refers to Patriots commenting that their country is great regardless of it being wrong - ie it can do no harm, it can do nothing wrong. Chesterton was making the point - later taken up buy Orwell - that a true patriot (a position I aspire to) will critize his country when wrong (and by doing so is indeed a true patriot).
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