Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

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Samuel Johnson? James Boswell? Samuel Maunder? Henry F. Bernard J. Dear Quote Investigator: A politician whose popularity is dropping may attempt to recapture acceptance by disingenuously embracing jingoistic patriotism. Here are three versions of a germane saying:.

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

Samuel Johnson was a curious man. One of his greatest innovations was to include plenty of illustrative literary quotations to show how words were used. He was, though, a strange fellow. He collected orange peel, but refused to tell anyone — even his trusty biographer, James Boswell — what he was doing with it all. He also reportedly liked to drink up to 25 cups of tea in one sitting. This line is often interpreted as being a denunciation of patriotism per se , and has frequently been used by people who wish to dismiss any form of national pride. Using the authority of Johnson and his weighty apophthegm is simply a way to prop up this rather simplistic view. That may not make any significant difference to the meaning, but the context does shed a different light on what Johnson meant:. Boswell tells us that Samuel Johnson made this famous pronouncement that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel on the evening of April 7, This hardly sounds as if Johnson is describing a scoundrel. They later became simply the Patriots, until they were disbanded in The group was formed in opposition to the ministry of Robert Walpole, the first de facto Prime Minister of Britain. William Pitt the Elder — who would later become Prime Minister himself — became a prominent member of the Patriot Party. Johnson actually valued patriotism as an idea, but he was — probably quite rightly — suspicious of those who use the word to describe themselves without following up such a label with any meaningful actions.

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Samuel Johnson 18 September [ O. Johnson was known as a staunch Tory or was thought not to be active within politics; his political writings were subsequently disregarded and neglected. Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson is partly to blame. Boswell did not meet Johnson until later in life and was unable to discuss how politics affected Johnson during his early years. Two periods, Robert Walpole 's control over British Parliament and the Seven Years' War , were Johnson's most active periods and are the source for much of his early writings. Although Boswell was present with Johnson during the s and described four major pamphlets written by Johnson, he neglected to discuss them because he is more interested in their travels to Scotland. That is compounded by the fact that Boswell held an opinion contradictory to two of the pamphlets, The False Alarm and Taxation No Tyranny , and so he attacked Johnson's views in his biography [1] —including Johnson's attacks on slavery.

The quote "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" by Samuel Johnson is a thought-provoking statement that calls into question the sincerity and motives of those who use patriotism as a shield for their questionable actions. At first glance, it may appear to be a simple observation about the darker side of human nature. However, delving deeper into its meaning, we can explore an unexpected philosophical concept - the interconnectedness of virtues and vices. On the surface, this quote suggests that individuals who lack integrity often resort to displaying overt patriotism as a means to deflect attention from their wrongdoings or mask their true intentions. It highlights a tendency for some people to exploit patriotic sentiments for personal gain or political maneuvering. Johnson's choice of words, referring to patriotism as the "last refuge" of scoundrels, implies that when all other justifications fail, scoundrels turn to patriotism as their final defense. While Johnson's quote may seem cynical, it serves as a reminder that we should not blindly accept or trust the actions of self-proclaimed patriots.

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

What does patriotism mean in the 21st Century, asks novelist Will Self. One of that great phrase-maker Samuel Johnson's most famous remarks was: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel". This bon mot was noted down by Johnson's amanuensis, Boswell, as was his inveterate habit. However, uncharacteristically, he failed to note the context.

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Type your email…. Martin 69 books view quotes. Debs had misattributed this quotation within separate article on the QI website. Great thanks to the anonymous friend of QI who was already familiar with this expression and its correct ascription. Rubell 1, books view quotes. Michael 3, books view quotes. Jul 07, PM. Amr books view quotes. One of his greatest innovations was to include plenty of illustrative literary quotations to show how words were used. Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. Share this quote:. Jul 22, PM. Firefox books view quotes. Eduardo books view quotes. Nov 03, AM.

Samuel Johnson was a curious man. One of his greatest innovations was to include plenty of illustrative literary quotations to show how words were used. He was, though, a strange fellow.

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