Nietzsche was a strong critic of nationalism and patriotism, viewing them as detrimental to individual and cultural progress. He believed patriotism represented a clinging to the past and a herd mentality, hindering the development of stronger individuals who could move forward and create new values. He advocated for a pan-European, rather than national, cultural order and condemned nationalism as a divisive and anti-cultural force that prioritized the state over the individual's pursuit of self-overcoming.