Mastodawn

It is important not to confuse nationalism with mere worship of success. The nationalist does not go on the principle of simply ganging up with the strongest side. On the contrary, having picked his side, he persuades himself that it is the strongest, and is able to stick to his belief even when the facts are overwhelmingly against him. Nationalism is power-hunger tempered by self-deception. Every nationalist is capable of the most flagrant dishonesty, but he is also — since he is conscious of serving something bigger than himself — unshakably certain of being in the right.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

More about this quote: wist.info/orwell-george/45922/

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Orwell, George - Essay (1945-05), "Notes on Nationalism," Polemic Magazine (1945-10) | WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Mar 18

A quotation from Christopher Marlowe

FAUSTUS: Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, et nulla est in nobis veritas;
   “If we say that we have no sin,
   We deceive ourselves, and there’s no truth in us.”
   Why, then, belike we must sin,
   And so consequently die.
   Ay, we must die an everlasting death.

Christopher "Kit" Marlowe (1564-1593) English dramatist and poet
The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Act 1, sc. 1 (sc. 1), l. 70ff (1594; 1604 “A” text)

More about this quote: wist.info/marlowe-christopher/…

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Marlowe, Christopher - The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Act 1, sc. 1 (sc. 1), l. 70ff (1594; 1604 "A" text) | WIST Quotations

FAUSTUS: Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, et nulla est in nobis veritas; "If we say that we have no sin, We deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us." Why, then, belike we must sin, And so consequently die. Ay, we must die an everlasting death. The quote is from the…

WIST Quotations

Wisdom in Space Mar 6

Nothing is easier than self-deceit, for what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.
-- Demosthenes (50 BCE)

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Wisdom in Space Mar 3

Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves.
-- Carl Sagan

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jul 31, 2025

A quotation from Moliere

ELMIRE: No, amorous men are gullible. Their conceit
So blinds them that they’re never hard to cheat.

[Non; on est aisément dupé par ce qu’on aime.
Et l’amour-propre engage à se tromper soi-même.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 4, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/moliere/78138/

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