All things, good and evil, come out, it seems, of the East. The Illuminati, like the Ismailites, dealt in allegories; and like the Mazdakites, they played with fire. Ameen Rihani allegorydealeast Change image and share on social
Weak and oppressed nations are fundamentally spiritual; strong nations are, as a rule, chiefly materialistic. Ameen Rihani chieflyfundamentallymaterialistic Change image and share on social
Society may be likened to a rod, which only a just government can balance properly. Ameen Rihani balancegovernmentliken Change image and share on social
Revolution applies a local anaesthetic to one class of society and operates on the other. Ameen Rihani anaestheticapplyclass Change image and share on social
When learning was monopolized by the monks in the Middle Ages, people specialized only in warfare and statecraft. And even these were not altogether free from the scholastic influence. Ameen Rihani agealtogetherfree Change image and share on social
To copy Nature? A boy with a camera can do that. To get the spirit of Nature? A woodman or a shepherd can follow the trail of the whistling wind to hoarded sunshine in distant wolds. But to interpret Nature and inform it with a human personality that rises above it, invokes the divine in it, is the work of genius. Ameen Rihani boycameracopy share on social
Autocracy is a government of the few from above; Bolshevism is a government of the few from below. Ameen Rihani autocracybolshevismgovernment Change image and share on social
Deficiencies in individuals, as in States, have their value and import. Indeed, that sublime impulse of perfectibility, always vivacious, always working under various forms and with one underlying purpose, would be futile without them, and fatuous. Ameen Rihani deficiencyfatuousform share on social
Experience is knowledge; but knowledge, when it is sought only as a material resource, is not always a blessing. Experience is wisdom; but wisdom, with those who lack vision, is not always power. Experience is tolerance; but tolerance, when it is induced by apathy, is not in the least a virtue. Ameen Rihani apathyblessexperience share on social
To be sure, we would not allow the world, if we can help it, to peep into our soul, much less to enter it. Our No-Man's-Land is hedged about with a wire entanglement of insincerities. And often we take refuge in a temperament, a pose, or a mystic mood. Ameen Rihani entanglemententerhedge share on social