The world’s shortest civics quiz
“My country, right or wrong” – Did you know know there were actually two popular interpretations on what this could properly mean? With which interpretation would you identify?
| Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right, but our country, right or wrong.Stephen Decatur, April 1816 |
| I can never join with my voice in the toast which I see in the papers attributed to one of our gallant naval heroes. I cannot ask of heaven success, even for my country, in a cause where she should be in the wrong. Fiat justitia, pereat coelum ["Let justice be done though heaven should fall" - anonymous, circa 43 B.C.]. My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.John Quincy Adams, August 1, 1816 |
A third quote, thanks to A. Edgars. We think this is the most apropos of all (Jan 2005):
| Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right.Carl Schurz (1829 – 1906) |