The Mercy of Allah quotes
The lines readers remember from The Mercy of Allah, by Hilaire Belloc.
24 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of the rich.
Show the passage
“
And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of the rich.
“I was willing enough that the carpets should be carpets of El Kzar, or, indeed, of any other place under heaven, for all were at my choice.
I have found, my dear nephews, that obstinate old men are easier to shepherd into financial schemes than any other sort: nor was I here disappointed.
Show the passage
“
I have found, my dear nephews, that obstinate old men are easier to shepherd into financial schemes than any other sort: nor was I here disappointed.
“The old mule made the admission which all such men make after the first conventional delays. He said: ‘That is all very well, but who is to pay for them?’
His young nephews appreciating how sacred a thing is death, especially the death of money, glided on tiptoe out of the room and vanished.
Show the passage
The old man concluded and bowed his head in a solemn silence.
His young nephews appreciating how sacred a thing is death, especially the death of money, glided on tiptoe out of the room and vanished.
Nothing, my dear nephews, is more foolish than to treat generously, or even rationally, an excited crowd of human beings.
Show the passage
“
Nothing, my dear nephews, is more foolish than to treat generously, or even rationally, an excited crowd of human beings.
All historians and philosophers will tell you that man in this state is but a wild beast, to be fled or mastered according to our abilities.
It is a maxim of all sound business that a thing should be sold as often as possible
Show the passage
“
It is a maxim of all sound business that a thing should be sold as often as possible
, and it was clear that I now had an opportunity of selling this charming creature for the third time. It was equally clear that, if I delayed, the opportunity would pass;
He was of that sort which is labelled in our indexes as ‘The constructive wild man,’ and happy is the captain of industry who chances upon such a one.
Show the passage
“It was clear from such a salutation with what sort of man I had to deal. Here was an enthusiast. It is a character of the utmost service to the man of affairs.
He was of that sort which is labelled in our indexes as ‘The constructive wild man,’ and happy is the captain of industry who chances upon such a one.
He was perhaps thirty years of age, strong, short in stature, very dark in complexion, with steady but eager eyes, and such an expression of grasp, resolution, and immediate decision as should lead to a fortune, not perhaps for himself but at least for anyone …
All quotes
Jump to a chapter
- I: Al-Rafsat, or “The Kick”
- IV: Al-Kantara, or “The Bridge”
- V: Milh, or “Salt”
- VI: Al-Wukalá, or “The Lawyers”
- VII: Ghanamat, or “The Sheep”
- IX: Al-Jamal Wa’l-Nakhl, or “Camels and Dates”
- X: Al-Hisān, or “The Horse”
- XII: Al-Mahallat al-Jadida, or “The New Quarter of the City”
- XIII: Al-Fulús al-Masnú Min al-Qirtás, or “The Money Made of Paper”
- XIV: Itmi’nán al-Nafs, or “The Peace of the Soul”
I: Al-Rafsat, or “The Kick”
In the days of Abd-er-Rahman, who was among the wisest and most glorious of the commanders of the faithful, there resided in the city of Baghdad an elderly merchant of such enormous wealth that his lightest expressions of opinion caused the markets of the Euphrates to fluctuate in the most alarming manner.
Show the passage
In the days of Abd-er-Rahman, who was among the wisest and most glorious of the commanders of the faithful, there resided in the city of Baghdad an elderly merchant of such enormous wealth that his lightest expressions of opinion caused the markets of the Euphrates to fluctuate in the most alarming manner.
This merchant, whose name was Mahmoud, had a brother in the middle ranks of society, a surgeon by profession, and by name El-Hakim. To this brother he had frequently expressed a fixed determination to leave him no wealth of any kind.
With those words my father (your grandfather, dear boys), seizing me by the shoulders, turned my back to his doors and thrust me forth with a hearty kick the better to emphasize his meaning.
Show the passage
I shall be better pleased to hear that you have sold yourself into slavery or in some other way provided for your continued sustenance. But what I should like best would be never to hear of you again.’
With those words my father (your grandfather, dear boys), seizing me by the shoulders, turned my back to his doors and thrust me forth with a hearty kick the better to emphasize his meaning.
“Thus was I launched out in the dawn of manhood to try my adventures with the world.
And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of the rich.
Show the passage
“
And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of the rich.
“I was willing enough that the carpets should be carpets of El Kzar, or, indeed, of any other place under heaven, for all were at my choice.
And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of the poor.
Show the passage
“
And let this teach you, my dear nephews, how simple are the minds of the poor.
“He hastened off to deliver my message.
IV: Al-Kantara, or “The Bridge”
I have found, my dear nephews, that obstinate old men are easier to shepherd into financial schemes than any other sort: nor was I here disappointed.
Show the passage
“
I have found, my dear nephews, that obstinate old men are easier to shepherd into financial schemes than any other sort: nor was I here disappointed.
“The old mule made the admission which all such men make after the first conventional delays. He said: ‘That is all very well, but who is to pay for them?’
People were also forbidden to swim the river between sunset and sunrise upon the grounds of security and police control, and between sunrise and sunset upon the grounds of decency.
Show the passage
“
People were also forbidden to swim the river between sunset and sunrise upon the grounds of security and police control, and between sunrise and sunset upon the grounds of decency.
“After the new regulations had been passed the gates were strengthened, regular officers were appointed to take the toll and I was public-spirited enough to permit my own servants to be withdrawn and these officials to be named (and paid) by the new council, retaining …
Intelligence, business enterprise, public spirit, common sense, justice and eighteen or nineteen other things which for the moment escape me supported the glorious triumph of The Free Bridge.
Show the passage
“I need scarcely tell you which of these competing interests won.
Intelligence, business enterprise, public spirit, common sense, justice and eighteen or nineteen other things which for the moment escape me supported the glorious triumph of The Free Bridge.
At last, when the moment was ripe for it to be voted upon, we swept our opponents out of existence at the polls, securing out of every 100 votes no less than fifty-three for our project.
V: Milh, or “Salt”
Even the moderately rich could no longer afford the services of more than a dozen dancing girls.
Show the passage
“At this juncture the difficulty had risen to the middle classes, and these joined with the populace. Ill ease grew general. A complaint of stringency was abroad, from the ranks of those who starved to death up to the merchants and the lords themselves.
Even the moderately rich could no longer afford the services of more than a dozen dancing girls.
“The whole island was in a ferment and the capital was so disturbed that one might have thought oneself at times among the degraded tribes of the mainland.
Evolution is better than revolution. If we do not reform ourselves, things will reform us. Mend it or end it.
Show the passage
That is it.’ He pressed my hand on the other side. ‘For yourself, Mahmoud, as you know, we have a respect which exceeds all bounds, but we must move with the times. Things are not what they were.
Evolution is better than revolution. If we do not reform ourselves, things will reform us. Mend it or end it.
What did the Sultan Omar say in the thirty-seventh year of the Flight of the Prophet?’
His young nephews appreciating how sacred a thing is death, especially the death of money, glided on tiptoe out of the room and vanished.
Show the passage
The old man concluded and bowed his head in a solemn silence.
His young nephews appreciating how sacred a thing is death, especially the death of money, glided on tiptoe out of the room and vanished.
VI: Al-Wukalá, or “The Lawyers”
‘Justice in Izmat is not bought and sold. There are, of course, certain necessary fees.
Show the passage
“ ‘Fear nothing,’ he returned heartily.
‘Justice in Izmat is not bought and sold. There are, of course, certain necessary fees.
But the law compels you to hire no pleader. You can appear yourself in court. That freedom is one of our great privileges;
‘We have not yet a Pleader’s Opinion. We have, so far, only the Opinion of Pleaders.’
Show the passage
“ ‘Why, no,’ said he.
‘We have not yet a Pleader’s Opinion. We have, so far, only the Opinion of Pleaders.’
“ ‘And what in the name of Fatimeh and Katisha is the difference?’
‘His Holiness is sitting on it,’ said I, simply.
Show the passage
“
‘His Holiness is sitting on it,’ said I, simply.
“Here the judge almost rose from his throne, so strongly was he moved.
“Ah! Ah!” sobbed out the poor infant. “Lost! lost! All lost! All that lovely money lost! I cannot bear it, uncle. I cannot bear it!”
Show the passage
“What is it, my little fellow?” said his uncle in real alarm.
“Ah! Ah!” sobbed out the poor infant. “Lost! lost! All lost! All that lovely money lost! I cannot bear it, uncle. I cannot bear it!”
and he burst into floods of tears.
VII: Ghanamat, or “The Sheep”
The world deals harshly by poor men.
Show the passage
At any rate I am quite certain of this: that by any common judgment of men he is the inferior and I the lord. Yet here I am! …
The world deals harshly by poor men.
’ He looked at me to see if the words sank in.
IX: Al-Jamal Wa’l-Nakhl, or “Camels and Dates”
I spent the remainder of that day debating whether to hang myself on a beam or throw myself from a minaret. The arguments in favour of either course were so evenly balanced that the sun set before I could decide between them
Show the passage
“
I spent the remainder of that day debating whether to hang myself on a beam or throw myself from a minaret. The arguments in favour of either course were so evenly balanced that the sun set before I could decide between them
, and even at sunset there appeared, through the Mercy of Allah, a new relief.”
X: Al-Hisān, or “The Horse”
Nothing, my dear nephews, is more foolish than to treat generously, or even rationally, an excited crowd of human beings.
Show the passage
“
Nothing, my dear nephews, is more foolish than to treat generously, or even rationally, an excited crowd of human beings.
All historians and philosophers will tell you that man in this state is but a wild beast, to be fled or mastered according to our abilities.
It is a maxim of all sound business that a thing should be sold as often as possible
Show the passage
“
It is a maxim of all sound business that a thing should be sold as often as possible
, and it was clear that I now had an opportunity of selling this charming creature for the third time. It was equally clear that, if I delayed, the opportunity would pass;
XII: Al-Mahallat al-Jadida, or “The New Quarter of the City”
He was of that sort which is labelled in our indexes as ‘The constructive wild man,’ and happy is the captain of industry who chances upon such a one.
Show the passage
“It was clear from such a salutation with what sort of man I had to deal. Here was an enthusiast. It is a character of the utmost service to the man of affairs.
He was of that sort which is labelled in our indexes as ‘The constructive wild man,’ and happy is the captain of industry who chances upon such a one.
He was perhaps thirty years of age, strong, short in stature, very dark in complexion, with steady but eager eyes, and such an expression of grasp, resolution, and immediate decision as should lead to a fortune, not perhaps for himself but at least for anyone …
Rich men love small windfalls.
Show the passage
but he took the money, and I could see that he was pleased. He was curiously pleased. Indeed, he was so pleased that, though a discreet man, he could not forbear mentioning the matter to his wife.
Rich men love small windfalls.
“In a few hours, therefore, the head mufti, the chief of the guard, and two very important councillors had in their various ways touched casually upon the wheat trade during short conversations in which each had separately engaged me under the shades of the bazaar.
But, as the proverb says, ‘The bold hunter slays the lion, the timid is slain of the cub.’
Show the passage
“After sunset I counted my money. I had left precisely fifty pieces of gold: a close aim, a narrow edge of venture.
But, as the proverb says, ‘The bold hunter slays the lion, the timid is slain of the cub.’
“It was late in that same night that the chief magistrate knocked at my door with the greatest precaution, bearing a hooded lantern, and walking on tiptoe.
XIII: Al-Fulús al-Masnú Min al-Qirtás, or “The Money Made of Paper”
The learned are slow to take a hint, so I locked my arm in his after a friendly fashion and led him genially to the door
Show the passage
“
The learned are slow to take a hint, so I locked my arm in his after a friendly fashion and led him genially to the door
, where he tried (unsuccessfully) to detain me for further remarks on yet another country famous for its enormous bats.
‘Cut off his head!’ said I.
Show the passage
“
‘Cut off his head!’ said I.
“It was done, and the warning sufficed. The paper was taken and the war proceeded.
XIV: Itmi’nán al-Nafs, or “The Peace of the Soul”
Not a man reaped or dug or carried heavy water jars under the hot sun, not a man groomed a horse or bent under the weight of a pack, not a man added brick to brick or mixed mortar, not a man did any useful act from one end of the state to the other, but some part of his toil was done for me
Show the passage
“
Not a man reaped or dug or carried heavy water jars under the hot sun, not a man groomed a horse or bent under the weight of a pack, not a man added brick to brick or mixed mortar, not a man did any useful act from one end of the state to the other, but some part of his toil was done for me
, and this state of affairs was, as I have said, as fixed and permanent as human things can be.
Read The Mercy of Allah free
The whole book is free in Doomreader, as short posts you scroll like a feed, with your place kept. Or download the EPUB.