The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.
Thorstein VeblenRead
Born in iniquity and conceived in sin, the spirit of nationalism has never ceased to bend human institutions to the service of dissension and distress.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Nationalism often arises from flawed foundations and perpetuates conflict and suffering within societies.
In this quote, Thorstein Veblen emphasizes that nationalism, which is birthed from moral and ethical shortcomings, consistently manipulates societal structures to promote separation and turmoil instead of unity and peace. The implication is that nationalism embodies a destructive force within human civilization, leading to strife rather than harmony.
Themes
NationalismConflictSocietyDistressHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate to highlight the dangers of extreme nationalism.
More from Thorstein Veblen
All quotes βConspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.
Thorstein VeblenRead
In order to stand well in the eyes of the community, it is necessary to come up to a certain, somewhat indefinite, conventional standard of wealth.
Thorstein VeblenRead
With the exception of the instinct of self-preservation, the propensity for emulation is probably the strongest and most alert and persistent of the economic motives proper.
Thorstein VeblenRead
The basis on which good repute in any highly organized industrial community ultimately rests is pecuniary strength; and the means of showing pecuniary strength, and so of gaining or retaining a good name, are leisure and a conspicuous consumption of goods.
Thorstein VeblenRead
In itself and in its consequences the life of leisure is beautiful and ennobling in all civilised men's eyes.
Thorstein VeblenRead
Similar quotes
Look at your feet. You are standing in the sky. When we think of the sky, we tend to look up, but the sky actually begins at the earth.
Diane AckermanRead
If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn.
Walter E. WilliamsRead
An almost perfect relationship with his father was the earthly root of all his wisdom. From his own father, he said, he first learned that Fatherhood must be at the core of the universe. [speaking of George MacDonald]
C. S. LewisRead
Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy.
Benjamin FranklinRead
Sometimes I sit down to dinner with people and I realize there is a massive military machine surrounding us, trying to kill the people I'm having dinner with.
Rachel CorrieRead
I came to realize clearly that the mind is no other than the Mountain and the Rivers and the great wide Earth, the Sun and the Moon and the Skyβ.
Lord ByronRead