Nationalism: Rabindranath Tagore Reflects on Patriotism

by Rabindranath Tagore

We have seen in our country some brand of tinned food advertised as entirely made and packed without being touched by hand. This description applies to the governing of India, which is as little touched by the human hand as possible.

It is superficial enough to think that all to-morrows are merely to-days, with the repeated additions of twenty-four hours.

Knowledge and efficiency are powerful in their outward effect, but they are the servants of man, not the man himself. Their service is like the service in a hotel, where it is elaborate, but the host is absent; it is more convenient than hospitable.

But boasting is only a masked shame, it does not truly believe in itself.

The tendency of mind is economical, it loves to form habits and move in grooves which save it the trouble of thinking anew at each of its steps. Ideals once formed make the mind lazy. It becomes afraid to risk its acquisitions in fresh endeavours.

You can borrow knowledge from others, but you cannot borrow temperament.

One must bear in mind that those who have the true modern spirit need not modernize, just as those who are truly brave are not braggarts.

Let our life be simple in its outer aspect and rich in its inner gain. Let our civilization take its firm stand upon its basis of social co-operation and not upon that of economic exploitation and conflict.