"Nationalism is always an effort in a direction opposite to that of the principle which creates nations. The former is exclusive in tendency, the latter inclusive. In periods of consolidation, nationalism has a positive value, and is a lofty standard. But in Europe everything is more than consolidated, and nationalism is nothing but a mania, a pretext to escape from the necessity of inventing something new, some great enterprise."

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Original Language: English

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Chapter XIV: Who Rules The World?

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Ortega_y_Gasset