Definitions HQ

A Nation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a big, blind worm. It has no honor, it never keeps its word because it has no word to keep.

A Nation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠only the individual writ large: what the nation does, each person does, and it will go on doing it as long as he does.

A Nation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a great rushing river beyond human control: the individual's life can be regulated like a canal, but a nation rolls on like a rock crashing downhill until stopped by something stronger.

A Nation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a personified concept with no life apart from individuals — an inborn character, handicap or advantage; it is handy to be English and answer 'No, I am English' when asked 'Are you a foreigner?'

The Nation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠psychologically the largest organized group and a clumsy, amoral monster like a huge saurian with a tiny brain: suggestible, moody, caught by slogans, harmless while fed, violent when hungry.