Patriotism is as fierce as a fever, pitiless as the grave, blind as a stone, and irrational as a headless hen. - Ambrose Bierce

Patriotism is fierce as a fever, pitiless as the grave and blind as a stone.

The game of discontent has its rules, and he who disregards them cheats. It is not permitted to you to wish to add another's advantages or possessions to your own; you are permitted only to wish to be another.

"Midőn egy napon gyermeki duzzogásomban meggondolatlanul letéptem kishúgom fülét, anyám korholó szava - "Meglepsz, fiam!" - annyira szíven ütött, hogy egész éjszaka sírva, álmatlanul hánykolódtam ágyamban, majd anyám lábához vetettem magam, s így kértem bocsánatát: - Ne haragudj, édesanyám, hogy meglepetést okoztam neked!"

He dug his fingers into the sand, threw it over himself in handfuls and audibly blessed it. It looked like diamonds, rubies, emeralds; he could not think of nothing beautiful which it did not resemble.