And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
read more

And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?

He serves me most who serves his country best.

He serves me most who serves his country best.

This heroism at command, this senseless violence, this accursed bombast of patriotism--how intensely I despise them!

This heroism at command, this senseless violence, this accursed bombast of patriotism--how intensely I despise them!

Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country.

Our native land charms us with inexpressible sweetness, and never
never allows us to forget that we belong to read more

Our native land charms us with inexpressible sweetness, and never
never allows us to forget that we belong to it.
[Lat., Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine captos
Ducit, et immemores non sinit esse sui.]

"My country, right or wrong," is a thing that no patriot would
think of saying except in a desperate read more

"My country, right or wrong," is a thing that no patriot would
think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying,
"My mother, drunk or sober."

From distant climes, o'er wide-spread seas we come,
Though not with much eclat or beat of drum;
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From distant climes, o'er wide-spread seas we come,
Though not with much eclat or beat of drum;
True patriots all; for be it understood
We left our country for our country's good.
No private views disgraced our generous zeal,
What urged our travels was our country's weal.

We join ourselves to no party that does not carry the flag and I
keep step to the music read more

We join ourselves to no party that does not carry the flag and I
keep step to the music of the Union.