"Vast and powerful Empires are founded on a religion. This is because dominion can only be secured by victory, and victory goes to the side which shows most solidarity and unity of purpose. Now men's hearts are united and co-ordinated, with the help of God, by participation in a common religion..." --- Ibn Khaldun (Religion as the Basis of Empire, Vol. I, p.284)
“Throughout history many nations have suffered a physical defeat, but that has never marked the end of a nation. But when a nation has become the victim of a psychological defeat, then that marks the end of a nation.” --- Ibn Khaldun, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History
"Mighty is geometry; joined with art, resistless." --- Euripides (Image: dome of Shah Jahan Masjid, Pakistan - by Sarmad)
"Geometry enlightens the intellect and sets one's mind right. All its proofs are very clear and orderly. It is hardly possible for errors to enter into geometrical reasoning, because it is well arranged and orderly. Thus, the mind that constantly applies itself to geometry is not likely to fall into error. In this convenient way, the person who knows geometry acquires intelligence." --- Ibn Khaldun
Geometry enlightens the intellect and sets one's mind right. All its proofs are very clear and orderly. It is hardly possible for errors to enter into geometrical reasoning, because it is well arranged and orderly. Thus, the mind that constantly applies itself to geometry is not likely to fall into error. In this convenient way, the person who knows geometry acquires intelligence. --- Ibn Khaldun, 1332-1406.
"[T]he interest subjects have in their ruler is not interest in his person and body, in his good figure or acute mind. Their interest in him lies in his relation to them. Dominion (mulk) is something relative, a relationship between ruler and subjects." --- Ibn Khaldun
The more a man's reflective power is capable of comprehending a regular chain of causes and effects the more fully is the human quality developed in him. Some men are capable of following up two or three links in a chain of causes and effects but no more; yet others can push on to the fifth or sixth, and in these last the distinctive human quality us more developed than in others. [...] a grasp of the relations of cause and effect arises from a natural disposition. --- Ibn Khaldun, Prolegomena, Vol II p.367, Perception and Reflection
How to Reverse the West's Decline by Jonathan Sacks
The state is therefore to society as form is to matter, for the form by its nature preserves the matter and, as philosophers have shown, the two are inseparable. --- Ibn Khaldun
A harsh and violent upbringing, whether of pupils, slaves or servants, has as its consequence that violence dominates the soul and prevents the development of the personality. Energy gives way to indolence, and wickedness, deceit, cunning and trickery are developed by fear of physical violence. These tendencies soon become ingrained habits, corrupting the human quality which men acquire through social intercourse and which consists of manliness and the ability to defend oneself and one’s household. Such men become dependent on others for protection; their souls even become too lazy to acquire virtue or moral beauty. They become ingrown. [...] This is what has happened to every nation which has been dominated by others and harshly treated. --- Ibn Khaldun
If the soul is impartial in receiving information, it devotes to that information the share of critical investigation the information deserves, and its truth or untruth thus becomes clear. However, if the soul is infected with partisanship for a particular opinion or sect, it accepts without a moment’s hesitation the information that is agreeable to it. Prejudice and partisanship obscure the critical faculty and preclude critical investigation. The result is that falsehoods are accepted and transmitted. --- Ibn Khaldun, al-Muqaddimah (Image: Islamic mosaic tilework, Pakistan)
Geometry enlightens the intellect and sets one's mind right. All its proofs are very clear and orderly. It is hardly possible for errors to enter into geometrical reasoning, because it is well arranged and orderly. Thus, the mind that constantly applies itself to geometry is not likely to fall into error. In this convenient way, the person who knows geometry acquires intelligence.
--- Ibn Khaldun, 1332-1406. Arab historian.
