A remarkable feature of Islam is that it gives dignity even to the humblest illiterate peasants. It gives them a certain human dignity which one doesn't find in other societies. — 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… — 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
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
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
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
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
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… — 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
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
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
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
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
It is difficult to generalize about Islam. To begin with, the word itself is commonly used with two related but distinct meanings, as the… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share
“Those who are unwilling to confront the past will be unable to understand the present and unfit to face the future.” — Bernard Lewis Copy Share
“ (Note: The following was written in 2003, before the full implication of US military commitment in Afghanistan and Iraq could be fully appreciated.… — Bernard Lewis Copy Share
