“Assyria soon discovered a painful truth: empires are like Ponzi schemes: financial frauds in which previous investors are paid returns out of new investors' deposits. The costs of holding imperial territory can only be underwritten by loot and tribute extracted… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“And that through all the ups and downs, nothing really worthwhile is ever permanently lost, even though its creators may be long forgotten. When,… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“Highly organized complex societies are delicate machines. It does not take much to bring them to ruin. ‘For want of a nail…the kingdom was lost’, as the old rhyme has it. Civilizations based on ideology are even more fragile than most. As we know from twentieth-century history, once people stop believing in the system, the end is near; no amount… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share
“Those societies in which seriousness, tradition, conformity and adherence to long-established - often god-prescribed - ways of doing things are the strictly enforced rule, have always been the majority across time and throughout the world. Such people are not known for their sense of humour and lightness of touch; they rarely break a smile. To them, change is always suspect… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share
“But if it were only a matter of attracting success and good fortune to his city and his empire, then being pronounced a god… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“If history, as by most definitions, begins with writing, then the birth, rise and fall of ancient Mesopotamia occupies a full half of all… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“History may not repeat itself but, as Mark Twain said, it does rhyme.” — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“Assyria soon discovered a painful truth: empires are like Ponzi schemes: financial frauds in which previous investors are paid returns out of new investors'… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“For a patrimonial state to be stable over time, it is best ruled with consent, at least with consent from the largest minority, if… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“But belief in a system cannot be sustained for ever. Empires based solely on power and domination, while allowing their subjects to do as… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“There is much irony in the fact that Anglo-American Middle East policy, from Operation Ajax, the deposing of democratically elected, socialist, secularist Prime Minister… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“The gakkul vat, the gakkul vat! The gakkul vat, the lamsare vat! The gakkul vat, which puts us in a happy mood! The lamsare… — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
“A hugely complicated, centrally planned, social and economic system can only be kept on the rails for as long as people believe in it.” — Paul Kriwaczek Copy Share Image
