--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Arab peoples possess an ancient and…" description: "\"The Arab peoples possess an ancient and highly developed civilization that is in many ways more sophisticated than our own. For instance, they invented..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/p-j-o-rourke-184_algebra_the-arab-peoples-possess-an-ancient-and_2818081.jpg" --- # The Arab peoples possess an ancient and highly developed… ![“The Arab peoples possess an ancient and highly developed civilization that is in many ways more sophisticated than our own. For instance, they invented algebra. And this is why we have to go to war with Saddam Hussein this minute and bomb the shish kebab out of him before he invents trig and…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/p-j-o-rourke-184_algebra_the-arab-peoples-possess-an-ancient-and_2818081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/p-j-o-rourke-184_algebra_the-arab-peoples-possess-an-ancient-and_2818081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/p-j-o-rourke-184_algebra_the-arab-peoples-possess-an-ancient-and_2818081.jpg) > “The Arab peoples possess an ancient and highly developed civilization that is in many ways more sophisticated than our own. For instance, they invented algebra. And this is why we have to go to war with Saddam Hussein this minute and bomb the shish kebab out of him before he invents trig and chemistry and the whole of America flunks high school.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author mocks the absurdity of using ancient cultural achievements as justification for war, highlighting irrational reasoning. **In simple terms:** Satire exposes illogical war arguments. Key Takeaway Question the logic behind war justifications. Themes satire war irrationality culture politics Mood sarcastic critical Type political satirical philosophical When to use this quote - media criticism - policy debate - educational curricula Key Concepts critical thinking historical irony propaganda analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does humor reveal hidden biases? - What are the dangers of conflating cultural achievements with military threats? A Different Perspective Satire may oversimplify complex geopolitical issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Algebra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Arab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab/) [Arab Peoples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab-peoples-1241253/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-ways-3568187/) [Developed Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed-civilization-3568186/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Kebabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kebabs-100048/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sophisticated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [There is a gulf between the Arab peoples and Arab intellectuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahar-ben-jelloun/there-is-a-gulf-between-the-arab-peoples-and-arab-intellectuals/) [Tahar Ben Jelloun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahar-ben-jelloun/) > [ \[Arab peoples\] are stuck back thousands of years and they think they're going to get out with a TV set. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/arab-peoples-are-stuck-back-thousands-of-years-and-they-think-they-re/) [William S. 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I never set fire to my own house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/i-like-fireworks-too-but-i-set-them-off-in-gardens-or-kebab-stands-i/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [My family members are vegetarians, but I like mutton and chicken seekh kebabs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-raina/my-family-members-are-vegetarians-but-i-like-mutton-and-chicken-seekh/) [Suresh Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-raina/) > [When you think about a barbecue, most people think of slabs of ribs, but you don't need to do that in today's culinary barbecue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-garvin/when-you-think-about-a-barbecue-most-people-think-of-slabs-of-ribs/) [G. Garvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-garvin/) > [I monitor the food my players eat on a Friday night. It's no good if they've had two vindaloos and a kebab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-dowie/i-monitor-the-food-my-players-eat-on-a-friday-night-it-s-no-good-if/) [Iain Dowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-dowie/) > [There's a certain kind of behavior in the Arab world that, to me, resembles the way young men behave when there is no significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-s-a-certain-kind-of-behavior-in-the-arab-world-that-to-me/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [...the science of calculation also is indispensable as far as the extraction of the square and cube roots: Algebra as far as the quadratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-science-of-calculation-also-is-indispensable-as-far-as-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“Who cares for Algebra? Who delights in solving math? I only want to live my life Along the creative path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/who-cares-for-algebra-who-delights-in-solving-math-i-only-want-to/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Algebra quotes > [“Who cares for Algebra? Who delights in solving math? I only want to live my life Along the creative path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/who-cares-for-algebra-who-delights-in-solving-math-i-only-want-to/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [...the science of calculation also is indispensable as far as the extraction of the square and cube roots: Algebra as far as the quadratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-science-of-calculation-also-is-indispensable-as-far-as-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Great people create great acts of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/great-people-create-great-acts-of-kindness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Algebra applies to the clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/algebra-applies-to-the-clouds/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ \[On refusing to do nude movie scenes:\] There are certain people who should know what you look like naked. I just don't think your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/on-refusing-to-do-nude-movie-scenes-there-are-certain-people-who/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [Hmm. I'm still not very good at algebra. I just can't figure out Y.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hmm-i-m-still-not-very-good-at-algebra-i-just-can-t-figure-out-y/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Astronomy, that micography of heaven, is the most magnificent of the sciences. ... Astronomy has its clear side and its luminous side; on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/astronomy-that-micography-of-heaven-is-the-most-magnificent-of-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [No one fully understands spinors. Their algebra is formally understood but their general significance is mysterious. 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While there may be a child in the 12th grade who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-child-in-the-4th-grade-who-s-just-learning-algebra-is-not-imperfect/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/when-i-was-at-school-i-was-terrible-at-algebra-and-arithmetic-but-i/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [Algebra goes to the heart of the matter at it ignores the casual nature of particular cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-charles-titchmarsh/algebra-goes-to-the-heart-of-the-matter-at-it-ignores-the-casual/) [Edward Charles Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-charles-titchmarsh/) [Browse all 235 Algebra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Arab peoples possess an ancient and highly developed civilization that is in many ways more sophisticated than our own. For instance, they invented algebra. 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