A brief anthology of embittered patriotism

I wrote this text more than twenty years ago. I am taking it up again—as a simple bibliographical appendix—prompted by Mr. Nicușor Dan’s recent musings on “healthy nationalism.”

Dimitrie Cantemir: “...the love we bear for our homeland urges us, on the one hand, to praise the nation from which we were born [...], while, on the other hand, our love of truth prevents us, to the same extent, from praising what would, in all fairness, deserve condemnation. It will be more useful to them if we clearly show them the flaws that disfigure them than if we deceive them with gentle flattery and clever excuses [...]. For this reason, we wish to state plainly that, in the customs of the Moldavians, apart from true faith and hospitality, we do not readily find anything that we might praise [...]. Good customs are rare among them. [...]. Pride and arrogance are their mother and sister. [...] ...they know no moderation in anything: if things go well for them they are arrogant, if things go badly they lose their composure.” (Description of Moldavia, II, Chapter XVII)

Ion Ghica: “...there was a time when great boldness and self-denial were required of a Romanian in order to think of nationality and freedom. [...] Now things have changed. To shout at every pitch, in season and out of season, from the mouth and from the pen: homeland, freedom, equality, independence; to accuse and mock those who do not overstep the bounds of moderation, good manners, and modesty, to accuse the people most devoted to the country’s welfare of treason, to treat them irreverently, to strike and insult them, is not only un dangerous, but glorious and even profitable. [...] Persecution and invective have remained the lot of those who do not climb onto the eaves to shout about patriotism, or who do not associate with those who practice slander and insult in favor of some party [...]. In twenty, fifty, a hundred years, perhaps journalists and historians will be found who will show future generations where there was more and truer love of country [...]; until then, however, merit and glory will belong to the screamers and the crafty, and the danger is great.” (“The Liberals of Yesteryear,” letter to Vasile Alecsandri, 1880)

Mihai Eminescu: “But gentlemen! I am ashamed to be Romanian! But what kind of Romanian? A Romanian who wants to appropriate the monopoly and privilege of patriotism and nationality—such a Romanian on parade I am ashamed to be. Nationality must be felt with the heart and not merely spoken with the mouth. What is deeply felt and respected is rarely pronounced! The ancient Hebrews were not allowed to pronounce the name of their god! I love the Romanian people without loving its half-educated and superficial elements.” (“From the Manuscripts,” Works, vol. IX, pp. 459-460)

Ion Luca Caragiale: “We Romanians are a world in which, if not much is done or thought, we can at least pride ourselves on the fact that very much is discussed.”

“The elements of success: flattering all popular ideas and formulas, which everyone applauds automatically, or by imitation, such as: Romanian youth, the Romanian economy, the Romanian woman, the Romanian peasant, the Romanian worker, the Romanian kingdom, etc., etc.—in general, the empty phrase, the charlatan’s declamation, the patriotic, national, Romanian bark—in a word, twaddle...”

“I exiled myself and that is all. The air here agrees with me, I am content with my own people, and I have no business there, where flattery and thievery are virtues, while work and talent are pitiable vices.”

“I have learned much since I began living in the midst of civilized Europe—where there is justice in the courts because there is also justice in the street—and above all one thing: that a person must say what they think in a European manner, not in a Greek-Gypsy manner.” (quoted in I.L. Caragiale, On the World, Art, and the Romanian Nation, ed. Dan C. Mihăilescu)

Emil Cioran: “In Romania, the type of intelligent and universally liked person is the systematic shirker, for whom life is an occasion for subjective whim, a minor exercise in contempt, and superficial negativity. I have never met a people with a weaker attachment to values than the Romanian.”

“No Romanian feels personally guilty [...] thus deserting individual responsibility.” (The Transfiguration of Romania)

https://www.dilema.ro/situatiunea/mica-antologie-a-patriotismului-amarit