Patriotism (Greece - motherland) is moral and political principle, social sense of which is the love to the motherland, devotion to it, and pride for all its past and present, aspiration to protect interests of homeland. Patriotism - « is one of the deepest human senses, fastened by ages and millenniums for the detachment of homelands » (V. Lenin., book. 37, page 190). Historically elements of patriotism as attachment to native land, language, formed traditions already in antiquity. In antagonistic society maintenance of patriotism becomes a class, because every class is expressed by the attitude toward a homeland through inherent him specific interests. In the conditions of development of capitalism, forming of nations, formations of the national states patriotism becomes inalienable component part of public consciousness. However as far as intensifying of class antagonism in the process of development of bourgeois society contradictory character of patriotism is revealed: with converting of bourgeoisie into a dominating class its patriotism stops to reflect national moments, as it was in the period of fight against feudalism, he is limited exploiter interests, closes up with nationalism and chauvinism, because « interests of homeland, people and whichever a capital puts the guard of the union of capitalists of entire countries against a worker...» (Lenin V. And., book. 36, page. 328-329). For patriotism of lower middle class national narrow-mindedness and national egoism is characteristic, determining in its attitude toward a homeland there are not interests of social progress, but profit interests. In bourgeois society only a proletariat comes forward express of native national interests of people, and that is why and by the transmitter of authentic patriotism. Social essence of patriotism changes during socialistic revolution, his staple is become by socialism is an object of national pride worker, socialistic national patriotism, indissolubly linked about by internationalism, is formed. Socialistic patriotism is expressed in devotion and loyalty not only the motherland but also all socialistic concord, to solidarity with the fight of worker entire countries against imperialism.

Philosophical dictionary / Under red. I.T. Frolova. - 4-e izd.-.: Politizdat, 1981. - 445 page.