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Meaning
The quote suggests that patriotism can be used as a moral cover for people who behave badly. It implies that showing love for one’s country may sometimes hide selfishness, cruelty, or other harmful conduct.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
Epigrams of Oscar Wilde (2007)
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
The phrase appears in the book "Epigrams of Oscar Wilde (2007)" by Oscar Wilde (Google Books snippet); no earlier source was checked.
Did You Know?
Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer (1854–1900).
About Oscar Wilde
Irish author, poet and playwright
Oscar Wilde was an Irish author, poet and playwright of the late 19th century. He became one of London’s most popular and influential dramatists in the early 1890s, and is closely associated with the Aestheticism movement. He is best known for The Picture of Dorian Gray, his epigrams, plays and children’s stories. His writing often combines wit, style and pointed observation, and his reputation is also shaped by his 1895 criminal conviction for gross indecency and for practising homosexual acts.
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READ THE SOURCE
Books by Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray
His only novel, full of quotable lines.