Bainbridge Colby Quotes

Patriotism without criticism has no head; criticism without patriotism has no heart..

Let us abandon this narrow conception of patriotism, which consists of the doctrine, "My country right or wrong." There is a nobler doctrine, ... "My country must always be right.

The citizen who criticizes his country is paying it an indirect tribute.

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.

Patriotism is best exemplified through auto-critique.

I feel sorry for those who measure their patriotism by how often and how viciously they can criticize our government.

We will never be a part of any plot against those who are governing our country.

Loyalty must arise spontaneously from the hearts of people who love their country and respect their government.

I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge.

A patriot is someone who stands for his country always, and for his government when it is deserved.

I love my country, not my government.

I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

Speaking as a Democrat, all my life battling for what I conceived to be Democracy, and what I conceived to be right, I am yet an American above Democracy.

I believe that a man can only be useful to his country when he can look at it clearly.

Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it's wrong.

We, the publishers of Asr-e-Azandegan, see ourselves as obligated to serve the people, the Government, and the Islamic Republic [of Iran]. We do this because we love our country and our motherland, and because we are fond of our glorious revolution, our government, and our leader [Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.]

When I disagree with the President on foreign policy, I ought to do it on American soil.

I wish to be no less than national in all the positions I may take.

Unlike many other peoples less happy, we give our devotion to a Government, to its Constitution, to its flag, and not to men.

Let us exalt patriotism and moderate our party contentions.

Patriotism, love of country, and pride in the flag which symbolizes country may be feelings which the race will at some period outgrow, but at present they are very real and strong, and the man who lacks them is a useless creature, a mere encumbrance to the land.

… loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions or its officeholders. The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, and care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, cease to protect the body from winter, disease, and death.

The citizen who criticizes his country is paying it an implied tribute.... It means that he has not given up hope for his country, that he still has hope for it ... I do not think it is "selling America short" when we ask a great deal of her; on the contrary, it is those who ask nothing, those who see no fault, who are really selling America short!

To criticize one's country is to do it a service and to pay it a compliment. It is a service because it may spur the country to do better than it is doing; it is a compliment because it evidences a belief that the country can do better than it is doing.