I'll tell you what's wrong with dumb-shit patriotism — it's delusional! It signifies nothing but the American need to win - John Irving

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Engraved portrait of John Irving, facing left

I'll tell you what's wrong with dumb-shit patriotism — it's delusional! It signifies nothing but the American need to win

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About John Irving

John Winslow Irving (born 2 March 1942) is an American novelist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter (for The Cider House Rules, based on his novel of the same name).

Biography information from Wikiquote · Portrait adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Dr. Jost Hindersmann Krimidoedel (CC BY)

Also Known As

Birth Name: John Wallace Blunt
Alternative Names: John Winslow Irving John Wallace Blunt, Jr.

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Additional quotes by John Irving

Oh, what a nation of moralists the Americans are! With what fervor do they relish bringing their sexual misconduct to light! A pity that they do not bring their moral outrage to bear on their president’s arrogance above the law; a pity that they do not unleash their moral zest on an administration that runs guns to terrorists. But, of course, boudoir morality takes less imagination, and can be indulged in without the effort of keeping up with world affairs — or even bothering to know “the whole story” behind the sexual adventure.

THAT'S WHAT POWERFUL MEN DO TO THIS COUNTRY - IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, SEXY, BREATHLESS COUNTRY, AND POWERFUL MEN USE IT TO TREAT THEMSELVES TO A THRILL! THEY SAY THEY LOVE IT BUT THEY DON'T MEAN IT. THEY SAY THINGS TO MAKE THEMSELVES APPEAR GOOD - THEY MAKE THEMSELVES APPEAR MORAL...THE COUNTRY WANTS A SAVIOUR. THE COUNTRY IS A SUCKER FOR POWERFUL MEN WHO LOOK GOOD. WE THINK THEY'RE MORALISTS AND THEN THEY JUST USE US.

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It is amazing to me, now, how such wild imaginings and philosophies - inspired by a night charged with frights and calamities - made such perfectly good sense to Owen Meany and me, but good friends are nothing to each other if they are not supportive.

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