Quote#Books & Reading
I propose to lay before you a concise history of Indian chronology…
Quote byWilliam Jones · 1746–1794
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: On the Chronology of the Hindoos (1790), quoted in E. F. Bryant, The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture (Oxford UP, 2001) ch. 1.
English (original)
I propose to lay before you a concise history of Indian chronology extracted from Sanskrit books, attached to no system, and as much disposed to reject Mosaick history, if it be proved erroneous, as to believe it, if it be confirmed by sound reason from indubitable evidence.
— William Jones
More from William Jones
What constitutes a state? Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain. And sovereign law, that state's collected will, O'er thrones and globes elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.
Go boldly forth, my simple lay, Whose accents flow with artless ease, Like orient pearls at random strung.
Than all Bocara's vaunted gold, Than all the gems of Samarcand.
Of armies on the chequer’d field array’d, And guiltless war in pleasing form display’d; When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, In ivory this, and that in ebon arms.
Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven, Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven.
My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in whatever hands it is placed.