I’m an advocate of the great Dr. Johnson, the English man of letters who said that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that some people use patriotism, or love for their country, as an excuse to hide their bad behavior or mistakes. The famous writer Dr. Johnson believed that those who are not truly patriotic may claim to be so as a way to cover up their own wrongdoings. This means that true patriotism is different from simply saying you love your country, especially when you are trying to avoid responsibility for your actions.

About George Galloway

George Galloway is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer. He has been a member of various political parties over the years, including the Labour Party, the Respect Party, and the Workers Party of Britain. Galloway has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for several constituencies, and has been a controversial figure for his views on the Iraq War, Israel, and other political issues.

More about the author

More quotes from George Galloway

Even if you only counted the votes that actually made it through the hoops in order to be cast, the president was really Al Gore.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I’m an advocate of the great Dr. Johnson, the English man of letters who said that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoundrel.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I’ve had more than 12,000 emails from the United States. It’s not easy in the United States to find out the email address of a British parliamentarian.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I’ve never had a penny through oil deals and no one has produced a shred of evidence that I have.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I’m demanding to be prosecuted. I’m begging to be prosecuted for perjury.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

George Bush doesn’t represent any civilization!

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

Henry Kissinger is the greatest living war criminal in the world today, with the blood of millions of people in Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos and Chile and East Timor on his hands. He will never appear in a court or be behind bars.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I am an opponent of Saddam Hussein, but an opponent also, of the sanctions that have killed a million Iraqi children and an opponent of the United States’ apparent desire to plunge the Middle East into a new and devastating war.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

MRSA, which is a kind of super bug mutant, is killing 10,000 people a year in Britain.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

Some things are too important to be left to the private sector.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

Tony Blair will be remembered for nothing other than that he followed George W. Bush over a cliff; took the rest of us with them, and we haven’t yet reached the bottom, I’m afraid.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

Anyone will say anything under torture.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

There are those who wrap themselves in flags and blow the tinny trumpet of patriotism as a means of fooling the people.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

The big tyrants never face justice.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

It’s clear enough that there was substantial fraud in Ohio, thus delivering the Electoral College vote for President Bush.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I came to declare that I am a friend to Arabs, at a time when it is not easy to be friend to Arabs, because nowadays those who have ambitions and interests would not befriend Arab.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I have never solicited nor received money from Iraq for our campaign against war and sanctions. I have never seen a barrel of oil, never owned one, never bought one, never sold one.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

I think that both men, Bush and Blair, will be damned in history. Both men have made their respective countries the two most hated countries in the world.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

We say here that if you fall down in the United States, the ambulance man must feel for your wallet before he feels for your pulse.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)

It is only losers that are prosecuted.

George Galloway

British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)