patriotism

The Napoleon of Notting Hill (G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton and W. Graham (Walford Graham) Robertson)
- Highlight on Page 67 | Loc. 1025-29  | Added on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 12:23 AM

He knew that real patriotism tends to sing about sorrows and forlorn hopes much more than about victory. He knew that in proper names themselves is half the poetry of all national poems. Above all, he knew the supreme psychological fact about patriotism, as certain in connection with it as that a fine shame comes to all lovers, the fact that the patriot never under any circumstances boasts of the largeness of his country, but always, and of necessity, boasts of the smallness of it.