Stephen Nathanson quotes

“While patriotism is often lauded as an unquestionable value, the status of patriotism is a problem for many thoughtful people. It is particularly troublesome for people who care about the common good but are alienated by the all too frequent use of patriotism and patriotic symbols to stifle debate, tarnish the images of rival candidates, or arouse popular support for aggressive military policies.”
-- Stephen Nathanson

Source : Stephen Nathanson (1993). “Patriotism, Morality, and Peace”, p.11, Rowman & Littlefield

#Military Quotes #Patriotic Quotes #Thoughtful Quotes

“Part of the problem with extreme patriotism is that it makes the support of one's country and its policies unconditional. Moderate patriots, on the other hand, see that taking morality seriously requires that our commitment to our country be conditional in two ways. First, the actions or policies of a government must be worthy of support or, at least, must not be serious violations of morality. When nations behave immorally, patriots need not support them.”
-- Stephen Nathanson

#Country Quotes #Commitment Quotes #Hands Quotes

“The American people have no control over what the military does. We have no say in American foreign policy.”

“I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed, there would be no more wars.”

Source : Quoted in James Charlton, The Military Quotation Book (1990)

“If you look at military and intelligence positions from the 1950s, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been against American national interests.”

“I'm just very wary that once you start military operations in any country, it's very difficult to predict what the outcome is.”

“When there's a status quo, usually what shakes everybody up is some sort of military confrontation, at which point we all come running and screaming to pick up the pieces.”

“If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.”

“Gold is good in its place, but living, brave, patriotic men are better than gold.”

“I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man.”

“It remains to consider what attitude thoughtful men and Christian believers should take respecting them, and how they stand related to beliefs of another order.”

Source : Asa Gray (1880). “Natural Science and Religion”

“I found out about reviews early on. They're mostly written by sad men on bad afternoons. That's probably why I'm less angry than some writers, who are so narcissistic they consider every line of every review, even a thoughtful one, as major treason.”