Ibn Khaldun
Father of sociology and historiography
Most quoted
"History is the record of human society, or world civilization; of the changes that take place in the nature of that society, such as savagery, sociability, and group solidarity; of the revolutions and uprisings by one set of people against another with the resulting kingdoms and states, with their various ranks and the different occupations and sciences to which they devote themselves; and, finally, of all the changes that occur in all these phenomena, as dictated by the nature of events."
— from Muqaddimah, 1377
"History is, in reality, no more than the record of human society, or world civilization; of the changes that take place in the nature of that society, such as savagery, sociability, and group solidarity; of the revolutions and uprisings by one set of people against another with the resulting kingdoms and states, with their various ranks and the activities that people undertake in their different occupations and sciences, and, in general, of all the transformations that society undergoes."
— from Muqaddimah
"History is the record of human society, or world civilization; of the changes that take place in the nature of that society, such as savagery, sociability, and group solidarity; of the revolutions and uprisings by one set of people against another with the resulting kingdoms and states, with their various ranks and the activities that human beings undertake in their different occupations and sciences, and, in general, of all the transformations that society undergoes."
— from Muqaddimah
All quotes by Ibn Khaldun (397)
The authority of the ruler does not become established unless he gains superiority over his people by the use of force.
The world is a garden, the state is its fence, the ruler is the gardener, the subjects are the plants, justice is the water, and oppression is the fire.
The secret of the matter is that civilization means the manifestation of human perfection in all its aspects.
When the ruler is just, the subjects are secure and the country prospers.
The subjects of a ruler are like a mirror in which he can see his own image.
The city is the home of sciences and crafts, the place where fortunes are made, the seat of government, the center of all that is beautiful.
The nomads are the basis of, and prior to, the sedentary people.
The ruler should be like a shepherd: he should protect his flock from the wolf and lead them to good pastures.
The crafts are perfected only if there exists a large and perfect sedentary civilization.
The ruler must be accessible to his subjects, so that justice may be done and grievances redressed.
The strength of the sovereign does not become consumed unless his commands are disobeyed.
The subjects will follow the example of their ruler.
The decline of a dynasty is like the decline of a man; it grows weak, its senses become impaired, and finally it dies.
The science of history is a science of great profit, bringing the past to life and making it as if it were the present.
The purpose of the crafts is to provide for the necessities of man.
The ruler should not be too severe in his punishments, nor too lenient.
The city is the mother of all vices, because of the luxury and the abundance found there.