Difference between revisions of "Patriotism"
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The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>. | The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>. | ||
| − | Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>The Devil's Dictionary</ref> | + | Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref> |
| − | Later still, [[World War I]] [[British]] infantryman and poet [[Wilfred Owen]] would wisely mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."<ref>Dulce Et Decorum Est</ref> | + | Later still, [[World War I]] [[British]] infantryman and poet [[Wilfred Owen]] would wisely mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."<ref>Wilfred Owen, Dulce Et Decorum Est</ref> |
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 18:17, March 18, 2007
Patriotism means love or devotion to one's country.
The word patriotism comes from Latin; the root is the same as pater, father, and literally means "fatherland."
The Roman poet Horace wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."[1].
Later, American satirist Ambrose Bierce would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."[2]
Later still, World War I British infantryman and poet Wilfred Owen would wisely mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."[3]