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
There are few virtues that the Poles do not possess and there are few errors they have ever avoided.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The English are predisposed to pride, the French to vanity.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
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
With disadvantages enough to bring him to humility, a Scotsman is one of the proudest things alive.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Italians come to ruin most generally in three ways, women, gambling, and farming. My family chose the slowest one.
—Pope John XXIII (1881–1963) Italian Catholic Religious Leader, Pope
Put an Irishman on the spit and you can always get another Irishman to turn him.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
If you want to eat well in England, eat three breakfasts.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Switzerland is a curst, selfish, swinish country of brutes, placed in the most romantic region of the world.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs; we have no place to go.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
Nothing and no one can destroy the Chinese people. They are relentless survivors.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Americans are like a rich father who wishes he knew how to give his sons the hardships that made him rich.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
An Englishmen thinks seated; a Frenchmen standing; an American pacing, an Irishman, afterwards.
—Austin O’Malley (1858–1932) American Aphorist, Ophthalmologist
There are few more impressive sights in the world than a Scotsman on the make.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
All nationalisms are at heart deeply concerned with names: with the most immaterial and original human invention. Those who dismiss names as a detail have never been displaced; but the peoples on the peripheries are always being displaced. That is why they insist upon their continuity—their links with their dead and the unborn.
—John Berger (1926–2017) English Art Critic, Novelist
The French work to live, but the Swiss live to work.
—French Proverb
The Irish ignore anything they can’t drink or punch.
—Common Proverb
It is easier for a Russian to become an atheist than for anyone else in the world.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–81) Russian Novelist, Essayist, Writer
How I like the boldness of the English, how I like the people who say what they think!
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
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 noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is a well-known fact that we always recognize our homeland when we are about to lose it.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
The Britons are quite separated from all the world.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
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
Bulls get rich, bears get rich, but pigs get slaughtered An Irishman is never at his best except when fighting.
—Irish Proverb
Much may be made of a Scotchman, if he be caught young.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist