Quote by Ernest Hemingway

I've seen a lot of patriots and they all died just like anybody else if it hurt bad enough and once they were dead their patriotism was only good for legends; it was bad for their prose and made them write bad poetry. If you are going to be a great patriot i.e. loyal to any existing order of government (not one who wishes to destroy the existing for something better) you want to be killed early if your life and works won't stink.

I've seen a lot of patriots and they all died just like anyb

Summary

This quote suggests that patriotism often leads to heroic sacrifices, but in the end, it transforms into mere legends. The author implies that extreme patriotism can negatively impact one's creativity, resulting in poor writing, particularly in poetry. However, if one is a true patriot, meaning loyal to the current government, the author suggests that it's better to die early before one's life and achievements lose their significance.

Topics

Patriotism

By Ernest Hemingway

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