Agree Quote by Nils Kjaer
“At the time of Caliph Omar's invasion of Egypt, the Arab officer on duty in the destruction of the library of Alexandria used two stamps with which he marked the books. One said: 'Does not agree with the Koran - heretic, must be burned'. The other said: 'Agrees with the Koran - superfluous, must be burned'.”
About This Quote
Source Historical account: unspecified source, likely secondary historical narrative
The quote illustrates that both dissenting and conforming ideas were destroyed, showing intolerance for any differing perspective.
In simple terms: Both opposing and agreeing ideas were burned.
Recognize the danger of absolute censorship.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- library preservation
- academic freedom
- religious reform
- historical research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports this story?
- How does this reflect on modern censorship?
The anecdote may be apocryphal, lacking primary evidence.