Ibn Khaldun
Tunisian · 1332–1406
Arab historian, sociologist, and philosopher, author of the Muqaddimah, a foundational text in the philosophy of history, sociology, and economics that analyzed the rise and fall of civilizations.
Wikipedia ↗“في أول الدولة تكون الحضارة بحقائقها وفي آخرها تكون بأسمائها وأشباحها.”
Arabic
“In the beginning of the dynasty, the weights and measures of civilization are obtained at their full value. At the end, they are given only as shadows and names.”
“إن الأمم التي تُهزم عسكريا لا تموت، ولكن الأمم التي تُهزم نفسيا هي التي تموت.”
Arabic
“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.”
“الماضي أشبه بالآتي من الماء بالماء.”
Arabic
“The past resembles the future more than one drop of water resembles another.”
“العصبية هي التي تُحقق النصر والمدافعة والحماية والمطالبة، ومن فقدها عجز عن ذلك كله.”
Arabic
“Group feeling produces the ability to defend oneself, to offer opposition, to protect oneself, and to press one's claims. Whoever loses it is too weak to do any of these things.”
“ثم يزداد الترف في الدولة بازدياد الحضارة، فتنغمس في النعيم وتترسخ عوائد الترف، وتبلغ الدولة غاية الهرم.”
Arabic
“Luxury then increases in a dynasty, with increasing civilization. The dynasty comes to indulge in extravagance. The customs of luxury become firmly entrenched, and the dynasty falls into complete decay.”
“وإذا حصل الترف والدعة في الدولة أخذت العصبية في التلاشي وأخذ بأسهم في النقص.”
Arabic
“When the ruling dynasty begins to enjoy luxury and tranquility, and when the people of the group seek to acquire the things that go with luxury, their vigor decreases, and so does their group feeling.”
“إن فن التاريخ من الفنون التي تتداوله الأمم والأجيال، وتشد إليه الركائب والرحال، وتسموا إلى معرفته السوقة والأغفال.”
Arabic
“History is a discipline that has a great number of approaches. Its useful aspects are very many. It requires numerous sources and vastly varied knowledge. It is a contemplation and verification of events and their causes, and a deep knowledge of the how and why of them.”