RAH is quite unfair to Dr. Johnson.
The actual quote, as taken from Boswell's biography: "Patriotism having become one of our topicks, Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apophthegm, at which many will start: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak of self-interest."
I really doubt RAH would disagree.
RAH is quite unfair to Dr. Johnson.
Actually “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel” is one of the all-time two most misconstrued phrases. The other is Asimov's favorite "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent"
Think about the literal meaning of the words used.
"Only the incompetent wait until the last extremity to use force, and by then, it is usually too late to use anything, even prayer." - H. Beam Piper
“RAH is quite unfair to Dr. Johnson”
Yes, he didn’t say patriotism is only the last refuge of a scoundrel. Let it be that and the primary instinct of decent men.
“a fat, gluttonous slob who was pursued all his life by a pathological fear of death”
Maybe so. I don’t know much about the death obsession, but he certainly was fat, judging by the picture on the cover of my book. He was also a genius and one of the great prose stylists in English. It saddens me to know how woefully unread Johnson is at present. Chances are that if you know of him you know him through Boswell. Which is fine for Boswell, as his book is a classic, but bad for Johnson, as he’s every bit as good, if out of fashion.