Stephen Decatur
From Wikiquote
Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. (5 January 1779 – 22 March 1820) was an American naval officer, notable for his heroism in actions at Tripoli, Libya in the Barbary Wars and in the War of 1812.
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[edit] Quotes
Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.
- Toast at a dinner in Norfolk, Virginia (April 1816); This statement produced the famous slogan "My country, right or wrong!" which itself produced famous responses by:
- John Quincy Adams (may our country always be successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.)
- G.K. Chesterton (a thing that no patriot would think of saying)
- Carl Schurz (if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right)
- Mark Twain (How absolutely absurd to teach this idea to the youth of the country)
