Accepting Quote by Bernard Lewis
“To accept the story of the Arab destruction of the library of Alexandria, one must explain how it is that so dramatic an event was unmentioned and unnoticed not only in the rich historical literature of medieval Islam, but even in the literatures of the Coptic and other Christian churches, of the Byzantines, of the Jews, or anyone else who might have thought the destruction of a great library worthy of comment. That the story still survives, and is repeated, despite all these objections, is testimony to the enduring power of a myth.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2,000 Years, 1995
The myth of Alexandria’s destruction persists because it fills a narrative need, despite lacking contemporary evidence.
In simple terms: A story persists because it serves a purpose, even if untrue.
Key Takeaway
Question myths and seek evidence.
Themes
history
mythmaking
knowledge
culture
memory
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
critical
Type
historical
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- teaching history
- public discourse
- media analysis
Key Concepts
Narrative bias
collective memory
historical omission
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence contradicts the myth?
- Why do societies cling to such stories?
A Different Perspective
Myths can obscure factual understanding and bias perceptions.
![“[In] the national and religious conflict of the [Byzantine and Saracen] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/338/edward-gibbon-710_byzantine_in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-o_29382.jpg)
![“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…” quote by Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89b/bernard-lewis-11653_middle-east_different-groups-in-the-middle-east-drew_37501.jpg)
