Notes on a Century Quotes

“Those who are unwilling to confront the past will be unable to understand the present and unfit to face the future.”
― Bernard Lewis, Notes on a Century: Reflections of A Middle East Historian

“Political humor flourishes in every society but particularly in those that are repressive.”
― Bernard Lewis, Notes on a Century: Reflections of a Middle East Historian

“Clarity of thought will normally produce clarity of style; obscurity of thought will produce obscurity of style.”
― Bernard Lewis, Notes on a Century: Reflections of A Middle East Historian

“For the study of Middle Eastern history, and at the present time one might even add of world history, some knowledge of Islam’s origins and of its scriptures is necessary. Already in my student years I was reading the Koran, the biography of the Prophet, and the extensive literature concerned with them. But at no time did I specialize in these topics. I am not an expert in theology or scripture, and I looked at these, if at all, only with a historian’s eye. I am, by vocation and profession, a historian, principally interested in the history of civilization. Looking back, I see that by this choice I saved myself a lot of trouble. This was not my purpose at the time but I have become well aware of my narrow and fortunate escape from one of the most difficult and dangerous topics of our profession. Even for Muslims, and far more so for non-Muslims, the study of the sacred biography and the sacred text has become highly sensitive, not so much a field of research as a minefield. This has not prevented my critics from attacking me for my treatment of Muslim scripture and sacred biography. In this as in other matters, the attacks came from both sides. On the one side I am accused of traducing Islam and its sanctities, on the other of defending and even concealing its flaws. As long as the attacks continue to come from both sides, I shall remain confident of my scholarly objectivity. Once,”
― Bernard Lewis, Notes on a Century: Reflections of A Middle East Historian

“Uncertainty may be beneficial in that it invites further research and further thought. But uncertainty disguised as certainty is dangerous.”
― Bernard Lewis, Notes on a Century: Reflections of a Middle East Historian