Herbert Spencer on Patriotism

?Some years ago I gave my expression to my own feeling ? anti-patriotic feeling, it will doubtless be called ? in a somewhat startling way. It was at the time of the second Afghan war, when, in pursuance of what were thought to be ?our interests,? we were invading Afghanistan. News had come that some of our troops were in danger. At the Athen?um Club a well-known military man ? then a captain but now a general ? drew my attention to a telegram containing this news, and read it to me in a manner implying the belief that I should share his anxiety. I astounded him by replying ? ?When men hire themselves out to shoot other men to order, asking nothing about the justice of their cause, I don't care if they are shot themselves?.? We could use a few Herbert Spencers these days.