Ibn Khaldun Quotes – Ibn Khaldun, a prominent Arab historian and historiographer, was considered the founder of modern sociology and demography. His book, ‘the Muqaddimah or Prolegomena,’ is well-known. It influenced Ottoman historians such as Mustafa Naima and Katip Celebi who used his theories to analyze the Ottoman Empire’s progress and fall.
19th-century European scholars also consider Khaldun to be one the greatest philosophers in the Middle Ages. They also recognize the importance and relevance of his book. Here are some of the most famous and inspiring quotes and sayings from Ibn Khaldun. These quotes and thoughts are taken from Ibn Khaldun’s writings, books theories, works, and personal life.
It feels right and appropriate to be sitting in Tunis, perusing “The Muqaddimah”, the 14 th century history text written by Ibn Khaldun. He was a Tunisian son and a traveller with great imagination and perspicacity.
Ibn Khaldun was a Cairo judge and confidante to Tamerlane (Timur), the cruel fearsome heir of Chingiz Khan. He was known for his sharp legal mind and ability to grasp aspects of the human condition.
Baca Juga:
- Quotes Habib Husein Ja’far
- Kumpulan Kata Bijak Islami Dari Qur’an, Hadits Dan Ulama Beserta Penjelasannya
24 Ibn Khaldun Quotes
Geometry enlightlens the intellect and sets one’s mind right
At the beginning of a dynasty, taxation yields a large revenue from small assessments. At the end of the dynasty, taxation yields a small revenue from large assessments.
Therefore, the Negro nation are, as a rule, submissive to slavery, because [Negroes] have little [that is essentially] human and have attributes that are quite similar to those of dumb animals, as we have stated.
The Berbers belong to a powerful, formidable, and numerous people; a true people like so many others, the world has seen – like the Arabs, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans.
People are largely ignorant of the interests of the human species.
Islam is under obligation to gain power over all nations.
All the sciences came to exist in Arabic. The systematic works on them were written in Arabic writing.
He who finds a new path is a pathfinder, even if the trail has to be found again by others; and he who walks far ahead of his contemporaries is a leader, even though centuries pass before he is recognized as such.
Sedentary culture is the goal of civilization. It means the end of its lifespan and brings about its corruption.
Businesses owned by responsible and organized merchants shall eventually surpass those owned by wealthy rulers.
Habits are qualities of the soul. Soul
Man is essentially ignorant, and becomes learned through acquiring knowledge.
Man is the child of customs, not the child of his ancestors.
The past resembles the future more than one drop of water resembles another. Past
Beyond [known peoples of black West Africa] to the south there is no civilization in the proper sense. There are only humans who are closer to dumb animals than to rational beings. They live in thickets and caves, and eat herbs and unprepared grain. They frequently eat each other. They cannot be considered human beings.
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.
The term of life of a dynasty does not normally exceed three generations. For in the first generation are still preserved the characteristic features of rough, uncivilized rural life, such as hard conditions of life, courage, ferocity, and partnership in authority. Therefore the strength of the ‘Asabiya is maintained … History
Government is an institution which prevents injustice other than such as it commits itself.
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 results is that falsehoods are accepted and transmitted. Soul
The easiest method of acquiring the habit of scholarship is through acquiring the ability to express oneself clearly in discussing and disputing scholarly problems. This is what clarifies their import and makes them understandable. Some students spend most of their lives attending scholarly sessions. Still, one finds them silent. They do not talk and do not discuss matters. More than is necessary, they are concerned with memorizing. Thus, they do not obtain much of a habit in the practice of scholarship and scholarly instruction.
The sciences of only one nation, the Greeks, have come down to us, because they were translated through Al-Ma’mun’s efforts. He was successful in this direction because he had many translators at his disposal and spent much money in this connection.
Geometry enlightens the intellect and sets one’s mind right. All of 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.
When incentive to acquire and obtain property is gone, people no longer make efforts to acquire any… Those who infringe upon property rights commit an injustice… If this occurs repeatedly, all incentives to cultural enterprise are destroyed and they cease utterly to make an effort. This leads to destruction and ruin of civilization.
Eventually, Aristotle appeared among the Greeks. He improved the methods of logic and systematized its problems and details. He assigned to logic its proper place as the first philosophical discipline and the introduction to philosophy. Therefore he is called the First Teacher.