Children Quote by Simon Sebag Montefiore
““Some pilgrims were convinced that children conceived within the Church were specially blessed, and of course there was alcohol, so that the dark hours often became a candlelit, hard-drinking orgy in which good-natured hymn singing gave way to ugly brawls. The Sepulchre, said one disgusted pilgrim, was “a complete brothel.” Another pilgrim, Arnold von Harff, a mischievous German knight, spent his time learning phrases in Arabic and Hebrew that give some clues to his preoccupations: How much will you give me? I will give you a gulden. Are you a Jew? Woman, let me sleep with you tonight. Good madam, I am ALREADY in your bed.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Jerusalem: The Biography, 2011
The excerpt describes chaotic, hedonistic behavior among some medieval pilgrims, contrasting sacred expectations with crude reality, and illustrates how personal motives and cultural encounters shaped their experiences.
In simple terms: Pilgrims often behaved wildly, mixing sacred and profane actions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the gap between ideal and real human behavior.
Themes
pilgrimage
cultural clash
human nature
history
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
observational
When to use this quote
- tourism
- historical research
- cultural analysis
- ethical reflection
- behavioral study
Key Concepts
sociology
anthropology
religious studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about human desire for meaning?
- How do modern pilgrimages compare?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizing the past can obscure harsh realities.
