"Fortunately, there is a sane equilibrium in the character of nations, as there is in that of men"
About this Quote
The subtext is aimed at two audiences. To fellow activists, it’s a warning against intoxication: don’t mistake fever for destiny, don’t confuse purity with progress. To the broader public, it’s reassurance: you don’t have to be an extremist to be patriotic; the nation, like a person, can recover its balance after a bout of passion. That analogy - nations “as… men” - is rhetorical sleight-of-hand, shrinking history to human scale so responsibility can’t be outsourced to “forces” or “the times.” If a nation has character, then it can be judged, educated, and disciplined.
In Marti’s context - anti-colonial struggle and the perilous afterlife of liberation movements - equilibrium becomes a moral argument for democratic restraint. He’s betting that collective sanity exists, but he’s also summoning it into being.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Marti, Jose. (2026, January 15). Fortunately, there is a sane equilibrium in the character of nations, as there is in that of men. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/fortunately-there-is-a-sane-equilibrium-in-the-160828/
Chicago Style
Marti, Jose. "Fortunately, there is a sane equilibrium in the character of nations, as there is in that of men." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/fortunately-there-is-a-sane-equilibrium-in-the-160828/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Fortunately, there is a sane equilibrium in the character of nations, as there is in that of men." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/fortunately-there-is-a-sane-equilibrium-in-the-160828/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.





