Love of liberty and patriotic feeling may have done much, but trial and suffering nobly borne more than all.
A great deal of what passes by the name of patriotism in these days consists of the merest bigotry and narrow-mindedness; exhibiting itself in national prejudice, national conceit, amid national hatred.

It does not show itself in deeds, but in boastings--in howlings, gesticulations, and shrieking helplessly for help--in flying flags and singing songs--and in perpetual grinding at the hurdy-gurdy of long-dead grievances and long-remedied wrongs.

To be infested by SUCH a patriotism as this is, perhaps, amongst the greatest curses that can befall any country.
But as there is an ignoble, so is there a noble patriotism--the patriotism that invigorates and elevates a country by noble work--that does its duty truthfully and manfully--that lives an honest, sober, and upright life, and strives to make the best use of the opportunities for improvement that present themselves on every side; and at the same time a patriotism that cherishes the memory and example of the great men of old, who, by their sufferings in the cause of religion or of freedom, have won for themselves a deathless glory, and for their nation those privileges of free life and free institutions of which they are the inheritors and possessors.
Nations are not to be judged by their size any more than individuals: "it is not growing like a tree In bulk, doth make Man better be." For a nation to be great, it need not necessarily be big, though bigness is often confounded with greatness.

A nation may be very big in point of territory and population and yet be devoid of true greatness.

The people of Israel were a small people, yet what a great life they developed, and how powerful the influence they have exercised on the destinies of mankind! Greece was not big: the entire population of Attica was less than that of South Lancashire.