In dealing with Englishmen you can be sure of one thing only, that the logical solution will not be adopted.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
The great nations have always acted like gangsters, and the small nations like prostitutes.
—Stanley Kubrick (1928–99) American Film Director, Writer, Film Producer, Photographer
The Canadian spirit is cautious, observant and critical where the American is assertive.
—V. S. Pritchett (1900–97) British Short Story Writer, Biographer, Memoirist, Literary Critic
If nations always moved from one set of furnished rooms to another — and always into a better set — things might be easier, but the trouble is that there is no one to prepare the new rooms. The future is worse than the ocean — there is nothing there. It will be what men and circumstances make it.
—Alexander Herzen (1812–70) Russian Revolutionary, Writer
The French complain of everything, and always.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Without country you have neither name, token, voice, nor rights, no admission as brothers into the fellowship of the Peoples. You are the bastards of Humanity. Soldiers without a banner, Israelites among the nations, you will find neither faith nor protection; none will be sureties for you. Do not beguile yourselves with the hope of emancipation from unjust social conditions if you do not first conquer a Country for yourselves.
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–72) Italian Patriot, Political Leader
Nations without a past are contradictions in terms. What makes a nation is the past, what justifies one nation against others is the past, and historians are the people who produce it.
—Eric Hobsbawm (1917–2012) British Historian
France is the country where the money falls apart and you can’t tear the toilet paper.
—Billy Wilder (1906–2002) American Filmmaker
Pervading nationalism imposes its dominion on man today in many different forms and with an aggressiveness that spares no one. The challenge that is already with us is the temptation to accept as true freedom what in reality is only a new form of slavery.
—Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) Polish Catholic Religious Leader
The United Nations is our one great hope for a peaceful and free world.
—Ralph Bunche (1903–71) American Political Scientist, Diplomat
There are few more impressive sights in the world than a Scotsman on the make.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
Historians are to nationalism what poppy-growers in Pakistan are to heroin-addicts: we supply the essential raw material for the market.
—Eric Hobsbawm (1917–2012) British Historian
The greatest nations have all acted like gangsters and the smallest like prostitutes.
—Stanley Kubrick (1928–99) American Film Director, Writer, Film Producer, Photographer
Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist