La patrie en danger

La patrie en danger (French: "The country (fatherland) in danger") was the start of a declaration by the French Assembly on 11 July 1792 in response to Prussia joining Austria against France. Along with the Levée en masse declared the next year, it was part of the growing idea of "people's war" which developed during the French Revolution, where ideology "not only mobilized manpower for the regular armies, but also inspired ordinary people to fight on their own account."[1]

Declaration of the French National Assembly from 1792

The text of the declaration reads:

"Citoyens, la Patrie est en danger.

"Que ceux qui vont obtenir l'honneur de marcher les premiers pour défendre ce qu'ils ont de plus cher se souviennent toujours qu'ils sont Français et libres; que leurs concitoyens la de maintiennent dans leur foyer la sûreté des personnes et des propriétés; que les magistrats du peuple veillent attentivement; que tous, dans un courage calme, attribut de la véritable force, attendent pour agir le signal de la loi, et la patrie sera sauvée."[2]

The phrase was taken up in other contexts, and became rather over-used. In French and sometimes other languages it has become proverbial, mostly used sarcastically.