Al-Maʿarri

inhabitant earth brain religion

“The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: those with brains, but no religion, and those with religion, but no brains.”

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

deed shame scoundrel plea forbears

“Make not, when you work a deed of shame, The scoundrel's plea, 'My forbears did the same.”

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

hanif muslim christian jews magian knaves fools

“Hanifs (Muslims) are stumbling, Christians all astray

Jews wildered, Magians far on error’s way.

We mortals are composed of two great schools

Enlightened knaves or else religious fools.”

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

creeds man prevail triumph fairytale

“So, too, the creeds of man: the one prevails

Until the other comes; and this one fails

When that one triumphs; ay, the lonesome world

Will always want the latest fairytales.”

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

all err muslim christian jew magian human intelligent religion

"They all err - Muslims, Christians, Jews and Magians. There are two kinds of humans - the intelligent, who have no religion, and the religious, who have no intellect."

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

reason forbid instinct nature attract falsehood truth

"Reason forbade me many things which,

Instinctively, my nature was attracted to;

And a perpetual loss I feel if, knowing,

I believe a falsehood or deny the truth."

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

doubt credulity

"A little doubt is better than total credulity."

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

fools awake rites sacred men old wealth lust law dust

"O fools, awake! The rites ye sacred hold

Are but a cheat contrived by men of old

Who lusted after wealth and gained their lust

And died in baseness-and their law is dust."

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

world class men intelligent religion

"The world holds two classes of men; intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence."

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)

recite sacred books fiction reason truth perish fools

"They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the (religious) traditions or interpreted them!"

― Al-Maʿarri (973-1057)