Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Saying ·224 of 348
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
They never said that.
What people say
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
What was actually said
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Samuel Johnson — Boswell's Life of Johnson, 7 April 1775
Why it stuck
Johnson meant false patriotism, not all patriotism. The short form drops the qualifier Johnson had in mind.
Misquote by context rather than by words.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.