“You will always find that those are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or no merit of their own to depend on; than which, to be sure, nothing is more natural: the slender vine twists around the sturdy oak, for no other reason in the world but because it has not strength sufficient to support itself”. (Oliver Goldsmith)
Some Englishmen, an Irishman and possibly a Scotsman go for a drink in a London bar. The Englishmen agree amongst themselves that they are superior to every other European nation in every conceivable respect. They then ask for the Irishman’s opinion. What does he say?
In this fantastic piece from 1798, Oliver Goldsmith beautifully explores the fine line between patriotism and national prejudice and I hope that I do his work justice. Please enjoy the podcast.
This work appeared in the collection “A Hundred English Essays”, edited by Rosalind Vallance and published by Nelson in 1936.
A quick head’s up about another exiting project. As part of Guerre and Shalom’s effort to defend Civilisation, democracy and truth from barbarism, we will, in due course, be publishing some other little known essays on these pages. Some will be from the distant past. Some will eminate from foreign languages. One criminally underpublished philosopher is Spain’s José Ortega y Gasset. I look forward to translating his essay “Sobre el fascismo” from El Espectador into English and publishing it here. Watch this space.
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