"What has the love of their country hitherto been among mankind? What has it been but a love of domination; a desire of conquest, and a thirst for grandeur and glory, by extending territory, and enslaving surrounding countries? What has it been but a blind and narrow principle, producing in every country a contempt of other countries, and forming men into combinations and factions against their common rights and liberties? ... What was the love of their country among the Jews, but a wretched partiality to themselves, and a proud contempt of all other nations? What was the love of their country among the old Romans? We have heard much of it; but I cannot hesitate in saying that, however great it appeared in some of its exertions, it was in general no better than a principle holding together a band of robbers in their attempts to crush all liberty but their own."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Fellows of the Royal SocietyPhilosophers from WalesEducators from WalesAcademics from WalesMathematicians from Wales
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
pp. 5–6
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Richard_Price
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Richard Price
Richard Price (23 February 1723 – 19 April 1791) was a Welsh moral philosopher, nonconformist preacher and mathematician. He was also a political pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the American Revolution. He was well-connected and fostered communication between many people, including several of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
15 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Richard Price →
Related Quotes
"[T]he LIBERTY we are blessed with. There is no country where this is enjoyed in such extent and perfection. The great…"
"What is now passing in France is an object of my anxious attention. I am by no means properly informed about the natu…"
"A Discourse on the Love of Our Country, delivered on Nov. 4, 1789, at the Meeting-House in the Old Jewry, to the Soci…"
"Our Lord and his Apostles ... recommended that UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE which is an unspeakably nobler principle than an…"
"The noblest principle in our nature is the regard to general justice, and that good-will which embraces all the world…"
"The chief blessings of human nature are the three following:—TRUTH—VIRTUE—and LIBERTY.—These are, therefore, the bles…"
"Ignorance is the parent of bigotry, intolerance, persecution and slavery. Inform and instruct mankind; and these evil…"
"Had I been to address the King on a late occasion, I should have been inclined to do it in a style very different fro…"
"Let us, in particular, take care not to forget the principles of the Revolution. ... I will only take notice of the t…"
"The most important instance of the imperfect state in which the Revolution left our constitution, is the INEQUALITY O…"