“Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.”
— Bertrand Russell
Simplified Meaning:
Patriotism often means feeling a strong love for your country. Sometimes, this intense loyalty can lead people to fight and even lose their lives over issues that might not be very important in the big picture. For example, two countries might go to war over a small piece of land. The people fighting might believe they are defending their nation, but the land itself might not have a big impact on their daily lives. Instead, the conflict could cause unnecessary suffering and loss. This idea suggests that people should think carefully about why they are fighting and if the reasons are genuinely worth such extreme sacrifices. To apply this idea in real life, it's good to reflect on the true importance of what's being defended before taking extreme actions.