He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life."

About This Quote

Themes

  • History — Lessons from the past and the arc of human civilisation
  • Religion — Exploring belief systems, worship, and spiritual practice
  • Truth — Meditations on honesty, authenticity, and the search for truth

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