In light of everyone talking about Australia's chance or otherwise in the soccerfootball world cup, I thought it was time to mention Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary on my blog.  His entry on Patriotism is as follows:

Patriotism, n
combustible rubbish ready to the torch of anyone ambitious to illuminate his name.
In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as "the last refuge of a scoundrel."
With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first.

I enjoy the Devil's Dictionary sometimes beause of the wit, and at other times because the cynicism expressed therein makes me feel like my own thoughs are a ray of sunshine.