It is the quality of patriotism to be jealous and watchful, to observe all secret machinations, and to see publick dangers at a distance. The true lover of his country is ready to communicate his fears, and to sound the alarm, whenever he perceives the approach of mischief. But he sounds no alarm, when there is no enemy; he never terrifies his countrymen till he is terrified himself. The patriotism, therefore, may be justly doubted of him, who professes to be disturbed by incredibilities.
Interpretation
Patriotism involves vigilance and a proactive stance against potential threats to one's country, balanced with a rational approach to fears.
In this quote, Samuel Johnson articulates a deep understanding of patriotism, emphasizing that true patriots are observant and alert to dangers that may threaten their nation. They communicate their concerns to others, but do not raise alarms based on unfounded fears. A genuine patriot remains composed and rational, recognizing that alarmism can be more harmful than beneficial when there is no real threat.
In practice
During a national holiday event, to encourage citizens to engage in constructive discussions about national issues.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
He became another data point in the American experiment of self-government, an experiment statistically skewed from the outset, because it wasn't the people with sociable genes who fled the crowded Old World for the new continent; it was the people who didn't get along well with others.
On the back of Satan's neck is a nail scarred footprint.
Liberty for each, for all, and forever!
The moral world has no particular objection to vice, but an insuperable repugnance to hearing vice called by its proper name.
Natural selection is not gene centrist and nor is biology all about genes; our comprehending minds are a result of our fast evolving culture.
I think the enemy is self-censorship. In a free society the biggest danger is that you're afraid to the point where you censor yourself.
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