Who said “What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.”?

Verified

Joseph Addison. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceCato, A Tragedy (1713), Act IV, scene iv

Find Cato, A Tragedy on Amazon · paid link

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Cato, A Tragedy (1713), Act IV, scene iv.

APA

Addison, J. (n.d.). What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32025-what-pity-is-it-that-we-can-die/

MLA

Addison, Joseph. “What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32025-what-pity-is-it-that-we-can-die/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Addison, Joseph. “What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32025-what-pity-is-it-that-we-can-die/.

Related quotes

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
— Nathan Hale
VerifiedLast words before being hanged by the British as a spy, (September 22, 1776), according to the account by William Hull based on reports by British Captain John Montresor who was present and who spoke to Hull under a flag of truce the next day · evidenceDetails & citePatriotism
Report

More quotes by Joseph Addison

“Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.”
VerifiedLine 287, the word "passed" was here originally spelt "past" but modern renditions have updated the spelling for clarity. An alteration of these lines occurs in Alexander Pope's satire The Dunciad, Book III, line 264, where he describes a contemporary theatre manager as an "Angel of Dulness" · evidenceDetails & citeEditing and Editors
Report
All 84 Joseph Addison quotes →