Ameen Rihani
Ameen Rihani
Ameen Rihani, was a Lebanese Arab-American writer, intellectual and political activist. He was also a major figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America, and an early theorist of Arab nationalism. He became an American citizen in 1901...
NationalityLebanese
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth24 November 1876
CountryLebanon
doe matter ideals
Like matter itself, an ideal is mutable, but indestructible. It does not die; it only undergoes a change.
born cherish continue failure ideal inner invest noblest
There is no such thing as disappointment for those who continue to cherish the selflessness of which is born the noblest inner self. There is no such thing as failure for those who invest in the potentialities of the Ideal of the Soul.
idealists
We are all idealists in that we are ever discontented with the present state of the Ego and the World.
above ahead below heritage however idealist message primitive races time
An idealist is ahead of his time only in the sense that he is articulate. The same is true of a nation. For even primitive people, even effete races have a message for those above or below them. The heritage of the Ideal, however small can not be exhausted.
race color class
We can not understand each other, if every time we venture out we stick the feather of cocksureness in our caps. No, we can never wholly understand each other, and rise to the level of mutual esteem at least, if we do not invest in that fellow feeling that triumphs over class and creed and race and color.
teacher honesty tolerance
You teacher, teach your pupils freedom in thought and deed, honesty in thought and deed, and tolerance in thought and deed.
unity sublime deeds
We must strive to form a comprehensive sublime nationalism whose first principal is national geographic unity and must strengthen this unity with deeds not with words.
order denominations form
We have to dissolve all the denominations in order to form from them the greater denomination of the homeland.
perseverance spirit clear
The will is the spirit of perseverance, and perseverance holds clear success.
men training matter
Training the will in trivial and grave matters increases its strength and flexibility, and enables man to constantly strive and persevere.
men thinking self
Self-reliance leads to intellectual independence. Each man must think for himself, must train the mind to think, must habituate the soul to observe and analyze.
two mind body
True up-bringing is restricted to two types of welfare; the welfare of the body and that of the mind.
giving goal priorities
I give priority to up-bringing over education because the ultimate goal of up-bringing is morals, and we have a more urgent need for morals than for knowledge.
men needs moral
Knowledge is one of our direst needs. But it is insufficient on its own. If knowledge was stripped from true up-bringing, it would increase man's strength, but not his morals.