Price, a non-conformist minister, was an ardent lover of civil and religious
liberty, though strongly opposed to Britain's attempt to suppress the American Revolution.
A close friend of Benjamin Franklin, he was invited by the Continental Congress in 1778 to
settle in America, an invitation which, however, he declined.
The love of our country has in all times been a subject of warm commendations; and
it is certainly a noble passion; but, like all other passions, it requires regulation and
direction. There are mistakes and prejudices by which, in this instance, we are in
particular danger of being misled. I will briefly mention some of these to you, and
observe,
First, That by our country is meant, in this case, not the soil or the spot of
earth on which we happen to have been born; not the forests and fields, but that community
of which we are members; or that body of companions and friends and kindred who are
associated with us under the same constitution of government, protected by the same laws,
and bound together by the same civil polity.
Secondly, It is proper to observe, that even in this sense of our country, that
love of it which is our duty, does not imply any conviction of the superior value of it to
other countries, or any particular preference of its laws and constitution of government.
Were this implied, the love of their country would be the duty of only a very small part
of mankind; for there are few countries that enjoy the advantage of laws and governments
which deserve to be preferred. To found, therefore, this duty on such a preference, would
be to found it on error and delusion. It is, however, a common delusion. There is the same
partiality in countries to themselves, that there is in individuals. All our attachments
should be accompanied, as far as possible, with right opinions. We are too apt to confine
wisdom and virtue within the circle of our own acquaintance and party. Our friends, our
country, and in short everything related to us, we are disposed to overvalue. A wise man
will guard himself against this delusion. He will study to think of all things as they
are, and not suffer any partial affections to blind his understanding. In other families
there may be as much worth as in our own. In other circles of friends there may be as much
wisdom; and in other countries as much of all that deserves esteem; but, notwithstanding
this, our obligation to love our own families, friends, and country, and to seek, in the
first place, their good, will remain the same.
Thirdly, It is proper I should desire you particularly to distinguish between
love of our country and that spirit of rivalship and ambition which has been common among
nations. What has the love of their country hitherto been among mankind? What has it been
but a love of domination; a desire of conquest, and a thirst for grandeur and glory, by
extending territory, and enslaving surrounding countries? What has it been but a blind and
narrow principle, producing in every country a contempt of other countries, and forming
men into combinations and factions against their common rights and liberties? This is the
principle that has been too often cried up as a virtue of the first rank: a principle of
the same kind with that which governs clans of Indians or tribes of Arabs, and leads them
out to plunder and massacre. As most of the evils which have taken place in private life,
and among individuals, have been occasioned by the desire of private interest overcoming
the public affections; so most of the evils which have taken place among bodies of men
have been occasioned by the desire of their own interest overcoming the principle of
universal benevolence: and leading them to attack one another's territories, to encroach
on one another's rights, and to endeavor to build their own advancement on the degradation
of all within the reach of their power. What was the love of their country among the Jews,
but a wretched partiality to themselves, and a proud contempt of all other nations? What
was the love of their country among the old Romans? We have heard much of it; but I cannot
hesitate in saying that, however great it appeared in some of its exertions, it was in
general no better than a principle holding together a band of robbers in their attempts to
crush all liberty but their own. What is now the love of his country in a Spaniard, a
Turk, or a Russian? Can it be considered as anything better than a passion for slavery, or
a blind attachment to a spot where he enjoys no rights, and is disposed of as if he were a
beast?
Let us learn by such reflections to correct and purify this passion, and to make it a
just and rational principle of action.
It is very remarkable that the founder of our religion has not once mentioned this
duty, or given us any recommendation of it; and this has, by unbelievers, been made an
objection to Christianity. What I have said will entirely remove this objection. Certain
it is, that, by inculcating on men an attachment to their country, Christianity would, at
the time it was propagated, have done unspeakably more harm than good. Among the Jews, it
would have been an excitement to war and insurrections; for they were then in eager
expectation of becoming soon (as the favorite people of Heaven) the lords and conquerors
of the earth, under the triumphant reign of the Messiah. Among the Romans, likewise, this
principle had, as I have just observed, exceeded its just bounds, and rendered them
enemies to the peace and happiness of mankind. By inculcating it, therefore, Christianity
would have confirmed both Jews and Gentiles in one of the most pernicious faults. Our Lord
and his Apostles have done better. They have recommended that UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE which
is an unspeakably nobler principle than any partial affections. They have laid such stress
on loving all men, even our enemies, and made an ardent and extensive charity so essential
a part of virtue, that the religion they have preached may, by way of distinction from all
other religions, be called the Religion of Benevolence. Nothing can be more friendly to
the general rights of mankind; and were it duly regarded and practiced every man would
consider every other man as his brother, and all the animosity that now takes place among
contending nations would be abolished....
But I am digressing from what I had chiefly in view, which was, after noticing that
love of our country which is false and spurious, to explain the nature and effects of that
which is just and reasonable. With this view I must desire you to recollect that we are so
constituted that our affections are more drawn to some among mankind than to others, in
proportion to their degrees of nearness to us, and our power of being useful to them. It
is obvious that this is a circumstance in the constitution of our natures which proves the
wisdom and goodness of our Maker; for had our affections been determined alike to all our
fellow-creatures, human life would have been a scene of embarrassment and distraction. Our
regards, according to the order of nature, begin with ourselves; and every man is charged
primarily with the care of himself. Next come our families, and benefactors, and friends;
and after them our country. We can do little for the interest of mankind at large. To this
interest, however, all other interests are subordinate. The noblest principle in our
nature is the regard to general justice, and that good will which embraces all the world.
I have already observed this; but it cannot be too often repeated. Though our immediate
attention must be employed in promoting our own interest and that of our nearest
connections: yet we must remember, that a narrower interest ought always to give way to a
more extensive interest. In pursuing particularly the interest of our country, we ought to
carry our views beyond it. We should love it ardently, but not exclusively. We ought to
seek its good, by all the means that our different circumstances and abilities will allow;
but at the same time we ought to consider ourselves as citizens of the world, and take
care to maintain a just regard to the rights of other countries....
Our first concern, as lovers of our country, must be to enlighten it. Why are the
nations of the world so patient under despotism? Why do they crouch to tyrants, and submit
to be treated as if they were a herd of cattle? Is it not because they are kept in
darkness, and want knowledge? Enlighten them and you will elevate them. Show them they are
men, and they will act like men. Give them just ideas of civil government, and let them
know that it is an expedient for gaining protection against injury and defending their
rights, and it will be impossible for them to submit to governments which, like most of
those now in the world, are usurpations on the rights of men, and little better than
contrivances for enabling the f ew to oppress the many. Convince them that the Deity is a
righteous and benevolent as well as omnipotent being, who regards with equal eye all his
creatures, and connects his favor with nothing but an honest desirc to know and do his
will; and that zeal for mystical doctrines which has led men to hate and harass one
another will be exterminated. Set religion before them as a rational service, consisting
not in rites and ceremonies, but in worshipping God with a pure heart and practicing
righteousness from the fear of his displeasure and the apprehension of a future righteous
judgment, and that gloomy and cruel superstition will be abolished which has hitherto gone
under the name of religion, and to the support of which civil government has been
perverted. Ignorance is the parent of bigotry, intolerance, persecution, and slavery.
Inform and instruct mankind; and these evils will be excluded. Happy is the person who,
himself raised above vulgar errors, is conscious of having aimed at giving mankind this
instruction. Happy is the scholar or philosopher who at the close of life can reflect that
he has made this use of his learning and abilities: but happier far must he be, if at the
same time he has reason to believe he has been successful, and actually contributed, by
his instructions, to disseminate among his fellow-creatures just notions of themselves, of
their rights, of religion, and the nature and end of civil government. Such were Milton,
Locke, Sidney, Hoadley, etc. in this country; such were Montesquieu, Fenelon, Turgot, etc.
in France. They sowed a seed which has since taken root, and is now growing up to a
glorious harvest. To the information they conveyed by their writings we owe those
revolutions in which every friend of mankind is now exulting. What an encouragement is
this to us all in our endeavors to enlighten the world? Every degree of illumination which
we can communicate must do the greatest good. It helps to prepare the minds of men for the
recovery of their rights, and hastens the overthrow of priestcraft and tyranny. In short,
we may, in this instance, learn our duty from the conduct of the oppressors of the world.
They know that light is hostile to them, and therefore they labor to keep men in the dark.
With this intention they have appointed licensers of the press; and, in Popish countries,
prohibited the reading of the Bible. Remove the darkness in which they envelope the world,
and their usurpations will be exposed, their power will be subverted, and the world
emancipated.
The next great blessing of human nature which I have mentioned is VIRTUE. This ought to
follow knowledge, and to be directed by it. Virtue without knowledge makes enthusiasts:
and knowledge without virtue makes devils; but both united elevates to the top of human
dignity and perfection. We must, therefore, if we would serve our country, make both these
the objects of our zeal. We must discourage vice in all its forms; and our endeavors to
enlighten must have ultimately in view a reformation of manners and virtuous practice. . .
.
LIBERTY is the next great blessing, which I have mentioned as the object of patriotic
zeal. It is inseparable lrom knowledge and virtue, and together completes the glory of a
community. An enlightened and virtuous country must be a free country. It cannot suffer
invasions of its rights, or bend to tyrants....
The observations I have made include our whole duty to our country; for by endcavoring
to liberalize and enlighten it, to discouragc vice and to promote virtue in it, and to
assert and support its liberties, we shall endeavor to do all that is necessary to make it
great and happy....
Source:
From: Richard Price, Discourse on the Love of our Country, (London, 1789), pp.
2-20.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton.
This text is part of the Internet
Modern History Sourcebook. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and
copy-permitted texts for introductory level classes in modern European and World history.
