THE FAMOUS PATRIOTIC QUOTE: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Nathan Hale (1755-1776) American schoolteacher, spy and Revolutionary War hero According to legend, Hale uttered this brave quote on September 22, 1776, just before he was hung by the British for being an American spy. According to modern historians, he probably didn’t say it. If he did, he was probably paraphrasing an earlier quote from Joseph Addison’s play Cato (1713), which was popular in the 1770s and almost certainly known to Hale. In Act IV, Scene 4 of the play, Cato says: “What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country!” connecticutsar.org/patriots/hale_nathan.htm
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 22:02:10 +0000