The concept of patriotism is not incompatible with that of

The words of Leon Bourgeois—“The concept of patriotism is not incompatible with that of humanity; on the contrary, let me state emphatically that he who best serves pacifism serves patriotism best. The nation is and can be no more than the vital basic unit of any international league.”—resound with the voice of a statesman who had seen the scars of conflict and longed for a higher harmony. He speaks not of patriotism as a rival to universal brotherhood, but as its foundation. To him, the love of country and the love of mankind are not enemies but allies, woven together in the great fabric of peace.

At the heart of his teaching lies a profound truth: patriotism and humanity do not exclude one another. The man who loves his homeland deeply can also love the larger family of nations, just as one who loves his household does not thereby cease to love his village. Bourgeois insists that true devotion to country must express itself in pacifism, for to preserve the peace of the world is to secure the safety and flourishing of one’s own people. The patriot who seeks war recklessly betrays his nation, but the patriot who seeks peace safeguards its destiny.

This wisdom was born from Bourgeois’s time. Living in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he witnessed Europe gripped by rivalries, arming itself for conflicts that would soon erupt into global war. A French statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, he believed in the creation of an international order where nations could resolve disputes without bloodshed. It was in this vision that he uttered these words: that the nation is the vital basic unit of any international league, and that only when nations themselves commit to peace can humanity move forward.

History gives us noble testimony of his vision. After the horrors of the First World War, nations came together to form the League of Nations, seeking to bind themselves to a covenant of peace. Though the League faltered, it laid the groundwork for the later United Nations, where sovereign countries gather as equals, seeking through dialogue what war had once decided through blood. This effort reflects Bourgeois’s wisdom: that patriotism is not weakened when a nation joins the brotherhood of nations—it is fulfilled, for the survival and prosperity of each homeland depends upon the peace of the world.

Consider also the story of Japan and Germany after the Second World War. Once nations consumed by militaristic patriotism, they rebuilt themselves not through conquest but through cooperation. By embracing peace and joining international alliances, they preserved their cultures, their prosperity, and their security. Their patriotism found expression not in war, but in peaceful participation in the larger community of nations. In this way, they became living examples of Bourgeois’s declaration: he who serves pacifism serves patriotism best.

The ancients too knew this truth. The Stoics spoke of being not only citizens of their city, but citizens of the world. To them, devotion to one’s polis was not at odds with devotion to humanity, for both flowed from the same duty to justice and harmony. Bourgeois stands in this ancient tradition, proclaiming that the nation is a building block, not a barrier, in the creation of world peace.

The lesson for us is clear: do not let love of country harden into hatred of others. True patriotism is not a clenched fist raised against the world, but an open hand offered in friendship. To serve peace is not weakness—it is the highest service to one’s people. For war may bring momentary pride, but peace brings enduring life, prosperity, and hope for generations.

Thus let Bourgeois’s words be engraved in memory: patriotism and humanity are not rivals, but allies. Pacifism is the highest form of patriotism, and the nation is the living cell in the body of humankind. Let each of us strive to be both faithful citizens of our land and faithful citizens of the world. In doing so, we honor our homeland, safeguard our people, and help build the greater peace that humanity longs for.