Ameen Rihani
Ameen Rihani
Ameen Rihani, was a Lebanese Arab-American writer, intellectual and political activist. He was also a major figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America, and an early theorist of Arab nationalism. He became an American citizen in 1901...
NationalityLebanese
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth24 November 1876
CountryLebanon
forms futile impulse sublime underlying value various
Deficiencies in individuals, as in States, have their value and import. Indeed, that sublime impulse of perfectibility, always vivacious, always working under various forms and with one underlying purpose, would be futile without them, and fatuous.
bled glorified sanctified
Revolution is glorified by intellectuals, apotheosized by poets, sanctified by visionaries, and bled white by politicians.
applies local society
Revolution applies a local anaesthetic to one class of society and operates on the other.
autocracy bolshevism few government
Autocracy is a government of the few from above; Bolshevism is a government of the few from below.
bolshevism european oriental
Bolshevism may be Marxian in theory, but it is Hulagoesque in practice. It may be of European descent, but it is Oriental in tradition. Oriental in mood. Oriental in temperament.
dealt good played
All things, good and evil, come out, it seems, of the East. The Illuminati, like the Ismailites, dealt in allegories; and like the Mazdakites, they played with fire.
idealists
We are all idealists in that we are ever discontented with the present state of the Ego and the World.
rights individual form
The duties I ask of myself are obligatory for absolutely every individual, everywhere. Moreover, just as I recognize these rights and duties of others, I would like the others to recognize them form me as well.
doe matter ideals
Like matter itself, an ideal is mutable, but indestructible. It does not die; it only undergoes a change.
pioneers highways nations
The footsteps of a pioneer become ultimately the highway of a nation.
lakes light mankind
In the Lakes of Light, Love and Will, I would baptize all mankind.
triumph defeat what-is-life
What is life without its angles of difficulty and defeat, and its tip of triumph and power?
understanding arabia majesty
I proceeded in my national mission, seeking to pave the way for an understanding between His Majesty and the other ruling princes of Arabia.
religious circles helping
The religious fanatic drew a small circle and left me, the infidel, outside it. However, I, with the help of love, won over him - I drew a large circle and included him.