Status Updates From Orientalism

i know these people were active in the nineteenth century but how is this even real

"Europe's effort therefore was to maintain itselt as what Valéry called 'une machine puissante,' absorbing what it could from outside Europe, converting everything to its use, intellectually and materially, keeping the Orient selectively organized (or disorganized)."

‘in his [renan’s] life, however, he determined to be as christian as he once was, only now without christianity and with what he called “la science laique”.’ 😭😭😭😭 i actually can’t with this book i want to cry and laugh but i want to finish it already