It is difficult to generalize about Islam. To begin with, the word itself is commonly used with two related but distinct meanings, as the equivalents both of Christianity, and Christendom. In the one sense, it denotes a religion, as system… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
“Different groups in the [Middle East] drew two lessons from [return of the shah in Iran] - one, that Americans were willing to use both force and intrigue to install or restore their puppet rulers in Middle Eastern countries; the other, that they were not reliable patrons when these puppets were seriously attacked by their own people, and would simply… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share
The Cold War philosophy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), which prevented the former Soviet Union and the United States from using the nuclear weapons… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
You see in the Muslim traditions, it's very clear: maintaining law and consultation, not being arbitrary and oppressive. Consultation. And also in the Muslim… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
To accept the story of the Arab destruction of the library of Alexandria, one must explain how it is that so dramatic an event… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
I know it is said repeatedly that I was in support of the American invasion in Iraq. It is simply not true. I was… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
Certainly Tunisia was the first in Muslim world. It's been like that for a long time and women play an important part in Tunisia.… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
In the West nowadays, it's very common to talk about the Judeo- Christian tradition. It's a common term. The term is relatively modern but the reality is an old one. One could with equal justification talk about a Judeo-Islamic tradition or a Christian-Islamic tradition. These three religions are interlinked in many signification ways, which marks them off from the rest… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share
When we talk about the Judeo-Christian or the Judeo-Muslim tradition, it's important to remember that we are speaking of a Jewish component of civilization,… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
In opposing we always talk about freedom in the Western world, Muslims always talk about justice. Very often we mean the same thing. But… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
You see in Turkey, they had a remarkable success story in building up a democracy. I was in Istanbul for most of the year… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
The word "democracy" is a Western word obviously. It doesn't exist in Arabic. Democratiya is a loan word. We in the Western world make… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
In the Christian world, as you remember, Christianity is in the 21st century, Islam is in the 15th century. I don't mean to say… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share Image
