When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!

David Starr Jordan’s quote, "When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!" uses a playful analogy to highlight the difference between faith and nationalism. Jordan suggests that the dog’s barking at the moon symbolizes a form of spirituality or religion, where the barking represents an instinctive response to something beyond human understanding, perhaps something that’s seen as divine or cosmic. In contrast, when the dog barks at strangers, it represents the more earthly and political impulse of patriotism—defending one's own territory or group, often without rational thought but driven by loyalty or fear of the unfamiliar.

The quote juxtaposes religion and patriotism to suggest that both can be seen as responses to external forces, but the motivations behind them differ. Religion is framed as something universal, perhaps even abstract, like the moon, while patriotism is more specific and rooted in human conflict or territoriality, symbolized by the dog barking at strangers. Jordan seems to be critiquing the way both religion and nationalism can lead people to act instinctively or even irrationally, without fully understanding the nature of what they are responding to.

David Starr Jordan, an influential American biologist and eugenicist, was deeply interested in the intersections of human behavior and social constructs, including religion and patriotism. His work often explored how deeply ingrained behaviors shape society. This quote reflects his skepticism about the ways in which people may blindly adhere to systems of belief or national identity, highlighting the potential dangers of acting without reflection or understanding. By comparing religious and nationalistic fervor to a dog’s instinctive behavior, Jordan invites people to question the motivations behind their actions.

Ultimately, Jordan’s quote serves as a reminder to reflect on the origins and nature of our beliefs and loyalties. He challenges us to think critically about whether we are engaging in religion or patriotism out of true conviction, or if we are merely reacting to external stimuli with the same unthinking instinct as a dog barking at the moon or at strangers. It’s a call for awareness and self-reflection in how we approach the forces that shape our identity and actions.