Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

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Samuel Johnson was a curious man. One of his greatest innovations was to include plenty of illustrative literary quotations to show how words were used. He was, though, a strange fellow. He collected orange peel, but refused to tell anyone — even his trusty biographer, James Boswell — what he was doing with it all. He also reportedly liked to drink up to 25 cups of tea in one sitting. This line is often interpreted as being a denunciation of patriotism per se , and has frequently been used by people who wish to dismiss any form of national pride.

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

Samuel Johnson 18 September [ O. Johnson was known as a staunch Tory or was thought not to be active within politics; his political writings were subsequently disregarded and neglected. Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson is partly to blame. Boswell did not meet Johnson until later in life and was unable to discuss how politics affected Johnson during his early years. Two periods, Robert Walpole 's control over British Parliament and the Seven Years' War , were Johnson's most active periods and are the source for much of his early writings. Although Boswell was present with Johnson during the s and described four major pamphlets written by Johnson, he neglected to discuss them because he is more interested in their travels to Scotland. That is compounded by the fact that Boswell held an opinion contradictory to two of the pamphlets, The False Alarm and Taxation No Tyranny , and so he attacked Johnson's views in his biography [1] —including Johnson's attacks on slavery. Boswell was not the only reason for Johnson to be disregarded as a political thinker. Thomas Babington Macaulay tried to promote the belief that Johnson's political thoughts were nonsensical and the writings of a bigot. In , he printed The Patriot , a critique of what he viewed as false patriotism. On the evening of 7 April , he made a famous statement: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. Johnson opposed most "self-professed patriots" in general but valued what he considered "true" patriotism. The last of the pamphlets, Taxation No Tyranny , was a defence of the Coercive Acts and a response to the Declaration of Rights of the First Continental Congress of America, which protested against taxation without representation.

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Samuel Johnson? James Boswell? Samuel Maunder? Henry F. Bernard J. Dear Quote Investigator: A politician whose popularity is dropping may attempt to recapture acceptance by disingenuously embracing jingoistic patriotism. Here are three versions of a germane saying:.

What does patriotism mean in the 21st Century, asks novelist Will Self. One of that great phrase-maker Samuel Johnson's most famous remarks was: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel". This bon mot was noted down by Johnson's amanuensis, Boswell, as was his inveterate habit. However, uncharacteristically, he failed to note the context. One thing we can be certain of - Johnson by no means intended by this that patriotism was an ignoble emotion. What he meant was that the scoundrel, having worn all other cloaks of virtue until they are threadbare, dons the patriotic one to hide his shamelessness.

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

The quote "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" by Samuel Johnson is a thought-provoking statement that calls into question the sincerity and motives of those who use patriotism as a shield for their questionable actions. At first glance, it may appear to be a simple observation about the darker side of human nature. However, delving deeper into its meaning, we can explore an unexpected philosophical concept - the interconnectedness of virtues and vices. On the surface, this quote suggests that individuals who lack integrity often resort to displaying overt patriotism as a means to deflect attention from their wrongdoings or mask their true intentions. It highlights a tendency for some people to exploit patriotic sentiments for personal gain or political maneuvering. Johnson's choice of words, referring to patriotism as the "last refuge" of scoundrels, implies that when all other justifications fail, scoundrels turn to patriotism as their final defense. While Johnson's quote may seem cynical, it serves as a reminder that we should not blindly accept or trust the actions of self-proclaimed patriots. It urges us to critically examine the motivations behind their patriotic displays and question whether they genuinely seek the betterment of society or are merely using patriotism as a facade.

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Jill books view quotes. Ubernoodle books view quotes. Jul 06, AM. Nov 02, AM. Cristina books view quotes. James Boswell? Tools Tools. Go to mobile version. Nov 22, AM. Mohammed 26 books view quotes. James Boswell , a Scotsman, was a close companion and friend of Johnson during many important times of his life, but Johnson, like many of his fellow Englishmen, had a reputation for despising Scotland and its people. Shiza 21 books view quotes. Great thanks to the anonymous friend of QI who was already familiar with this expression and its correct ascription. Download as PDF Printable version.

Samuel Johnson was a curious man. One of his greatest innovations was to include plenty of illustrative literary quotations to show how words were used. He was, though, a strange fellow.

Nov 03, PM. Jul 04, AM. Feb 11, PM. Apr 21, AM. We have met on a day dedicated forever to celebrating and inculcating patriotism. Jul 10, PM. Oct 15, PM. Verified with scans. Layth 1, books view quotes. Mathias 2, books view quotes. Patriotism is the first refuge of a scoundrel. Jonathan books view quotes.