Chengiz Khan and his Mongols were cruel and destructive, but they were like others of their time. But Timur was much worse. He stands apart for wanton and fiendish cruelty.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 247
Violence is a common enough phenomenon in history, but usually it is considered a painful necessity and it is excused and explained. Fascism, however, did not believe in any such apologetic attitude towards violence. They accepted it and praised it openly, and they practised it even though there was no resistance to them.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, pp. 818-819
Fascism had triumphed and Mussolini was in control. But what did he stand for? What was his programme and policy? Great movements are almost invariably built up round a clear-cut ideology which grows up round certain fixed principles and has definite objectives and programmes. Fascism had the unique distinction of having no fixed principles, no ideology, no philosophy behind it, unless the mere opposition to socialism, communism, and liberalism might be considered to be a philosophy.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, pp. 817-818
It is said that these Moghul Courts were magnificent, and were perhaps the richest and most splendid that have ever existed.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 288
They were a strange people, these Mongols; highly efficient in some ways, and almost childish in other matters. Even their ferocity and cruelty, shocking as it was, has a childish element to it. It is this childishness in them, I think, that makes these fierce warriors rather attractive.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 225
Chengiz is, without doubt, the greatest military genius and leader in history. Alexander and Caesar seem petty before him.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 216
His name was Theodosius, and he is called the Great, I suppose because he was great in destroying the old temples and the old statues of the gods and goddesses. He was not only strongly opposed to those who were not Christians: he was equally aggressive against Christians who were not orthodox according to his way of thinking. He would tolerate no opinion or religion of which he did not approve.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 139
The word Hun has become a terrible term of reproach. So also has the word Vandal. Probably these Huns and Vandals were rather coarse and cruel and did a lot of damage, but we must remember that all the accounts of them that we have got are from their enemies the Romans, and one can hardly expect them to be impartial.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 91
It is one of the wonders of history how the Jews, without a home or a refuge, harassed and persecuted beyond measure, and often done to death, have preserved their identity and held together for over 2000 years.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 85
Ashoka became an ardent Buddhist and tried his utmost to spread the Dharma. But there was no force or compulsion. It was only by winning men's hearts that he sought to make converts. Men of religion have seldom, very seldom, been as tolerant as Ashoka.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 63
I am afraid I am a little too fond of running down kings and princes. I see little in their kind to admire or do reverence to. But we are now coming to a man who, in spite of being a king and emperor, was great and worthy of admiration. He was Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.
Origine: Glimpses of World History, p. 61
