My country right or wrong; when right, to keep her right; when wrong, to put her right.
Carl SchurzRead
Tis not, 'my country right or wrong'; tis, 'my country, that which is right to be kept right, that which is wrong to be set right'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Patriotism should be guided by a moral compass, striving to correct wrongs rather than blindly supporting your country.
This quote emphasizes the idea that true patriotism is not about unconditionally supporting one's country, but rather about actively promoting justice and righteousness. It advocates for a critical approach to national loyalty, where one recognizes faults and seeks to correct them rather than overlooking them in a misguided sense of loyalty.
Themes
PatriotismMoralityJusticeNationalismActivism
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about civic responsibility during a political rally.
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All quotes βIdeals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them.
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