--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You never observe a great intellectual…" description: "\"You never observe a great intellectual movement in Europe in which the Jews do NOT greatly participate. The first Jesuits were Jews.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/benjamin-disraeli-390_europe_you-never-observe-a-great-intellectual-m_705079.png" --- # You never observe a great intellectual movement in Europe… ![“You never observe a great intellectual movement in Europe in which the Jews do NOT greatly participate. The first Jesuits were Jews.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/benjamin-disraeli-390_europe_you-never-observe-a-great-intellectual-m_705079.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/benjamin-disraeli-390_europe_you-never-observe-a-great-intellectual-m_705079.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/benjamin-disraeli-390_europe_you-never-observe-a-great-intellectual-m_705079.png) > “You never observe a great intellectual movement in Europe in which the Jews do NOT greatly participate. The first Jesuits were Jews.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jewish individuals have historically been integral to European intellectual movements, often contributing significantly to cultural and scholarly developments. **In simple terms:** Jews have played key roles in European thought. Key Takeaway Recognize contributions of all groups. Themes history culture intellectual movements Mood reflective analytical Type historical sociological When to use this quote - academic research - cultural studies - public discourse Key Concepts Jewish participation European intellectual history Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing minority contributions change our view of history? - What risks arise from attributing movements to a single group? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizing can obscure diverse experiences and contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Jesuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesuit/) [Jew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jew/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) ## Related quotes > [We, the Jews, not only have degenerated and are located at the end of the path, we spoiled the blood of all the peoples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/we-the-jews-not-only-have-degenerated-and-are-located-at-the-end-of/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [I'm very interested in the history of Christianity, and what I can say for sure is that the Catholics and the Jesuits and stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-m-very-interested-in-the-history-of-christianity-and-what-i-can-say/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I do not like the late resurrection of the Jesuits. . . . If ever any congregation of men could merit eternal perdition on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-do-not-like-the-late-resurrection-of-the-jesuits-if-ever-any/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Jesuits so dominated the study of earthquakes that seismology became known as 'the Jesuit Science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jesuits-so-dominated-the-study-of-earthquakes-that-seismology-became/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My history of the Jesuits is not elegantly written, but is supported by unquestionable authorities, is very particular and very horrible. Their restoration is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/my-history-of-the-jesuits-is-not-elegantly-written-but-is-supported/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I do not like the reappearance of the Jesuits... Nevertheless, we are compelled by our system of religious toleration to offer them an asylum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-do-not-like-the-reappearance-of-the-jesuits-nevertheless-we-are/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The Jesuits…are a secret society – a sort of Masonic order – with superadded features of revolting odiousness, and a thousand times more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-morse/the-jesuits-are-a-secret-society-a-sort-of-masonic-order-with/) [Samuel Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-morse/) > [It was served of the Jesuits, that they constantly inculcated a thorough contempt of worldly things in their doctrines, but eagerly grasped at them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-was-served-of-the-jesuits-that-they-constantly-inculcated-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [ “...to become a Christian one did not have to become a European. \[Jesuit mission philosophy\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-o-malley-s-j/to-become-a-christian-one-did-not-have-to-become-a-european-jesuit/) John W. O'Malley S.J > [My History of the Jesuits is in four volumes… This society has been a greater calamity to mankind than the French Revolution, or Napoleon's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/my-history-of-the-jesuits-is-in-four-volumes-this-society-has-been-a/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The Jesuits were quite balked by those Indians who, being burned at the stake, suggested new modes of tortures to their tormentors. 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But then I chose the Society of Jesus, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entered-the-diocesan-seminary-i-liked-the-dominicans-and-i-had/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The Jesuits use this kind of training, or, let's say it this way: The Jesuit General imposes this kind of structure; he encourages the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/the-jesuits-use-this-kind-of-training-or-let-s-say-it-this-way-the/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! 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The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Europe quotes > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. 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Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Conservatism aims to maintain in working order the loyalties of the community to perceived truths and also to those truths which in their judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr-2/conservatism-aims-to-maintain-in-working-order-the-loyalties-of-the/) [William F. 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