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 sciences are all the result of human effort.
It is the mind that classifies things and gives them names.
The world is a garden entrusted to rulers.
Happiness is achieved when one has health, wealth, and knowledge.
The strength of the tribe is in its solidarity.
Education is the path to progress.
Power must be used justly, or it corrupts.
Wealth is not in gold, but in the satisfaction of needs.
Society is built on cooperation and mutual aid.
The decline of states begins with the corruption of rulers.
Logic is the tool of philosophy.
Nature provides the raw materials, but man shapes civilization.
True knowledge comes from observation and reason.
The soul finds rest in contemplation.
Empires rise on the backs of nomads.
Mathematics is the clearest of the sciences.
History repeats itself in cycles.
Justice is the foundation of society.
The mind is sharpened by study.
Luxury leads to weakness.