An Englishmen thinks seated; a Frenchmen standing; an American pacing, an Irishman, afterwards.
—Austin O’Malley (1858–1932) American Aphorist, Ophthalmologist
I find that the Americans have no passions, they have appetites.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
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
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
If you want to eat well in England, eat three breakfasts.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
Bulls get rich, bears get rich, but pigs get slaughtered An Irishman is never at his best except when fighting.
—Irish Proverb
The Irish ignore anything they can’t drink or punch.
—Common Proverb
The French work to live, but the Swiss live to work.
—French Proverb
The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The British have a remarkable talent for keeping calm, even when there is no crisis.
—Franklin P. Jones
There are few virtues that the Poles do not possess and there are few errors they have ever avoided.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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, Novelist
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
Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
The English are predisposed to pride, the French to vanity.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Much may be made of a Scotchman, if he be caught young.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The Britons are quite separated from all the world.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
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
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
Nationalist pride, like other variants of pride, can be a substitute for self-respect.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Nothing and no one can destroy the Chinese people. They are relentless survivors.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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
Put an Irishman on the spit and you can always get another Irishman to turn him.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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
The Canadian spirit is cautious, observant and critical where the American is assertive.
—V. S. Pritchett (1900–97) British Biographer, Memoirist, Short Story Writer, Critic
The English instinctively admire any man who has no talent and is modest about it.
—James Agate (1877–1947) English Critic, Diarist
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