This text explores the essence of the nation, particularly the Czech nation, defining it not as a natural phenomenon but as an artificial cultural construct. The author argues that although nations are "inventions," their historical realization makes them a concrete reality. The text critiques the traditional understanding of the nation as something given by nature (fysei), a misconception tracing back to Aristotle’s conception of the polis. In this context, the author references Patočka’s notion of the trauma of national character and Rádl’s critique of Boleslav Jablonský. Jablonský's thesis—that nationality precedes faith because birth precedes baptism—is identified as flawed because it confuses biological birth with cultural identity. Thus, a nation is understood as the result of intentional cultivation and cultural effort rather than an immutable biological fact. This perspective encourages a reassessment of traditional nationalist attitudes and acknowledges historical and cultural responsibility for the existence of a national community.