What does seem to me poisonous, what breeds a type of patriotism that is pernicious if it lasts but not likely to last long in an educated adult, is the perfectly serious indoctrination of the young in knowably false or biased history - the heroic legend drably disguised as text-book fact. With this creeps in the tacit assumption that other nations have not equally their heroes; perhaps even the belief - surely it is very bad biology - that we can literally 'inherit' tradition.

Summary

This quote highlights the negative implications of indoctrinating young minds with false or biased historical narratives. The author argues that such indoctrination can lead to a dangerous form of patriotism that is based on inaccurate information. They suggest that an educated adult is less likely to hold onto this pernicious form of patriotism. Additionally, the quote challenges the notion that one nation's heroes are superior or more deserving of recognition, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the heroic figures from other nations as well.

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