Art Quote by Will Durant
““We shall never be able to do justice to Indian art, for ignorance and fanaticism have destroyed its greatest achievements, and have half ruined the rest. At Elephanta the Portuguese certified their piety by smashing statuary and bas-reliefs in unrestrained barbarity; and almost everywhere in the north the Moslems brought to the ground those triumphs of Indian architecture, of the fifth and sixth centuries, which tradition ranks as far superior to the later works that arouse our wonder and admiration today. The Moslems decapitated statues, and tore them limb from limb; they appropriated for their mosques, and in great measure imitated, the graceful pillars of the Jain temples.91 Time and fanaticism joined in the destruction, for the orthodox Hindus abandoned and neglected temples that had been profaned by the touch of alien hands.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Story of Civilization, Volume III: The Classical Age, 1935
Historical neglect and fanaticism have damaged Indian art, with both foreign conquerors and local apathy contributing to its loss.
In simple terms: Art was destroyed by zealotry and indifference.
Key Takeaway
Preserve and study remaining works.
Themes
history
art
cultural heritage
religion
colonialism
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
critical
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- academic research
- heritage tourism
- community education
Key Concepts
iconoclasm
cultural loss
heritage preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can modern societies protect vulnerable cultural sites?
- What responsibilities do scholars have in reconstructing lost histories?
A Different Perspective
Even preserved, surviving pieces may be misinterpreted without context.
