Jacek

“As Dawkins goes on to say (p. 316), “The one thing that makes evolution such a neat theory is that it explains how organized complexity can arise out of primeval simplicity.” This is one of the key strengths of Darwin’s idea, and the key weakness of the alternatives. In fact, I once argued, it is unlikely that any other theory could have this strength:”
― Daniel C. Dennett, Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meaning of Life

“It is the power of visualization that enables us to reach out toward the future, whether our goal is to bring down a mammoth, write a book, or set a new record time in a race.”
― Cameron Stracher, Kings of the Road: How Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar Made Running Go Boom

“Zapamiętajmy także katolickiego arcybiskupa Toledo, Obayda Allaha ibn Qâsima. Zapamiętajmy kordobańskie synagogi. Nigdy już potem, przez omal tysiąclecie, nie spotkał się świat z taką religijną tolerancją, czy dzisiejszymi mówiąc słowami – ekumenizmem. Mogli kalifowie zmieniać królów na szachownicy konfliktów rozdrobnionych państewek Hiszpanii, ich poddanym zostawiali jednak pełną wolność religijną i światopoglądową.”
― Anonymous

“Adopting and extending the existing system of mamluk recruitment, he purchased thousands of young male slaves, drawn from Kipchak Turkish and, later, Caucasian stock. These boys were trained and indoctrinated as mamluk troops, and then at the age of eighteen freed to serve their masters within the Mamluk sultanate. This approach created a constantly self-rejuvenating military force–what one modern historian has called a ‘one-generation nobility’–because children born of mamluks were not regarded as being part of the martial elite, although they were permitted to enrol in the army’s second-tier halqa reserves.”
― Thomas Asbridge, The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land