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Home / Books / Lawrence of Arabia: The Man Behind the Myth (Complete Autobiographical Works, Memoirs & Letters): Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Memoirs of the Arab Revolt) + The Evolution of a Revolt + The Mint (Memoirs of the secret service in Royal Air Force) + Collected Letters (1915-1935)

Lawrence of Arabia: The Man Behind the Myth (Complete Autobiographical Works, Memoirs & Letters): Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Memoirs of the Arab Revolt) + The Evolution of a Revolt + The Mint (Memoirs of the secret service in Royal Air Force) + Collected Letters (1915-1935)

Book by T. E. Lawrence · 13 quotes · Arabia, Clothes, Desert

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Lawrence of Arabia: The Man Behind the Myth (Complete Autobiographical Works, Memoirs & Letters): Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Memoirs of the Arab Revolt) + The Evolution of a Revolt + The Mint (Memoirs of the secret service in Royal Air Force) + Collected Letters (1915-1935) Quotes

“Half a calamity is better than a whole one.”

“Do not try and do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not win it for them.”

“A thick headcloth forms a good protection against the sun, and if you wear a hat your best Arab friends will be ashamed of you in public.”

“If you wear Arab things, wear the best. Clothes are significant among the tribes, and you must wear the appropriate, and appear at ease in them. Dress like a Sherif, if they agree to it.”

“The beginning and ending of the secret of handling Arabs is unremitting study of them.”

“The desert was held in a crazed communism by which Nature and the elements were for the free use of every known friendly person for his own purposes and no more.”

“The greatest commander is he whose intuitions most nearly happen.”

“Men have looked upon the desert as barren land, the free holding of whoever chose; but in fact each hill and valley in it had a man who was its acknowledged owner and would quickly assert the right of his family or clan to it, against aggression.”

“Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals.”

“He was old and wise, which meant tired and disappointed.”

“The Beduin could not look for God within him: he was too sure that he was within God.”

“I could write for hours on the lustfulness of moving Swiftly.”

“They taught me that no man could be their leader except he ate the ranks' food, wore their clothes, lived level with them, and yet appeared better in himself.”