“CAVE AB HOMINE UNIUS LIBRE”
“BEWARE THE MAN OF ONE BOOK”
This citation was quoted by Isaac D’Israeli in “Curiosities of Literature”.
I found also a different spelling of the word ‘book’: “Cave ab homine unius libri”.
There are other translations of this Latino quotation as well: “Beware the man governed by one book” or “Beware of the one-sided man”. There are probably some more translations but the meaning still stays the same and is spelled in the symbol. The man, who read one book or wrote one book, is short-sighted. Why? Because in that one moment when the person gets, maybe accidental, this particular book in hands, his/her life becomes directed into way one. This man strictly accepts only those principles that he/she found in “the one and only one” publication. This person gets this one philosophy of life and becomes limited or closed for other viewpoints. Such man happens to be fanatical and obsessed with the believes included in the book. The theory becomes an indication for all his life and there is not any other existing attitude, just the one that he/she believes in. This individual is leaded by the book, is biased and blinded for opinion of others. He/she may even hate others because they are more open and have different opinions. This person is even ready to devote his life or others for the right of the only one idea.
There were couple mad men in a history of the world that were inspired by the one book or thought included in it. Those people were able to destroy, kill, torture and violate the moral rights of humans.
One of the examples is a book “Malleus maleficarum” in translation “The Witch hammer” that was written by two inquisitionists: Heinricha Kramer and Jakob Sprenger in 1489. The aim of the authors was to totally get rid of the devil’s advocates. According to this book magic was mostly cultivated by women because of their nature. They believed that females have just less faith in God. Therefore the church’s inquisitors decided to find those who did not fit to the perfect example of faithful people and devoted to God. This book cause that millions of innocent people were murdered burnt alive and tortured. Mostly women were killed but also suspected men. The numbers of the dead tolls is chilling in the Middle Age. The only one book became the reason of tragedy of millions.
Another great example is Adolf Hitler who’s book “Mein kampf “ (1924) and the idea of it, inspired many people. The author of the one tome and the readers of it consequently leaded into millions of dead people and tragedy of those who survived.
There was Josef Stalin who had absolute power and believed in idea of fighting with or rather easily getting rid of class society that did not fit his dream. Again, million of innocent people died because of the one thought. He is accused as the biggest murderer of his nation.
Mao Zedong had a sick idea of Cultural Revolution and the effect of it was a tragedy of millions who he ordered to be killed.
Unfortunately in today’s world we have many more maniacs who still believe in some mad idea. And because of it and their short-sighted views, their regime, policy and power many times harms human kind. Therefore, “Cave ab humine unius libre”! This is certainly a wonderful meaning we should keep in mind. Having more open view to other religions, cultures, traditions, novelty, history and views of others.
“BEWARE THE MAN OF ONE BOOK”
This citation was quoted by Isaac D’Israeli in “Curiosities of Literature”.
I found also a different spelling of the word ‘book’: “Cave ab homine unius libri”.
There are other translations of this Latino quotation as well: “Beware the man governed by one book” or “Beware of the one-sided man”. There are probably some more translations but the meaning still stays the same and is spelled in the symbol. The man, who read one book or wrote one book, is short-sighted. Why? Because in that one moment when the person gets, maybe accidental, this particular book in hands, his/her life becomes directed into way one. This man strictly accepts only those principles that he/she found in “the one and only one” publication. This person gets this one philosophy of life and becomes limited or closed for other viewpoints. Such man happens to be fanatical and obsessed with the believes included in the book. The theory becomes an indication for all his life and there is not any other existing attitude, just the one that he/she believes in. This individual is leaded by the book, is biased and blinded for opinion of others. He/she may even hate others because they are more open and have different opinions. This person is even ready to devote his life or others for the right of the only one idea.
There were couple mad men in a history of the world that were inspired by the one book or thought included in it. Those people were able to destroy, kill, torture and violate the moral rights of humans.
One of the examples is a book “Malleus maleficarum” in translation “The Witch hammer” that was written by two inquisitionists: Heinricha Kramer and Jakob Sprenger in 1489. The aim of the authors was to totally get rid of the devil’s advocates. According to this book magic was mostly cultivated by women because of their nature. They believed that females have just less faith in God. Therefore the church’s inquisitors decided to find those who did not fit to the perfect example of faithful people and devoted to God. This book cause that millions of innocent people were murdered burnt alive and tortured. Mostly women were killed but also suspected men. The numbers of the dead tolls is chilling in the Middle Age. The only one book became the reason of tragedy of millions.
Another great example is Adolf Hitler who’s book “Mein kampf “ (1924) and the idea of it, inspired many people. The author of the one tome and the readers of it consequently leaded into millions of dead people and tragedy of those who survived.
There was Josef Stalin who had absolute power and believed in idea of fighting with or rather easily getting rid of class society that did not fit his dream. Again, million of innocent people died because of the one thought. He is accused as the biggest murderer of his nation.
Mao Zedong had a sick idea of Cultural Revolution and the effect of it was a tragedy of millions who he ordered to be killed.
Unfortunately in today’s world we have many more maniacs who still believe in some mad idea. And because of it and their short-sighted views, their regime, policy and power many times harms human kind. Therefore, “Cave ab humine unius libre”! This is certainly a wonderful meaning we should keep in mind. Having more open view to other religions, cultures, traditions, novelty, history and views of others.
No comments:
Post a Comment