Liars on truth

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), Oct 2, 2011 at 13:39

"Your quotation of Polibius is not authentic since the person as you mention was himself a Roman court historian and that is why he mentions about the crocodile tears of Scipio Africanus who was personally responsible for destruction of Troy."

First, not "Polibius, but "Polybius". Second, Scipio Africanus was not "personally responsible for destruction of Troy" as you rave but of Carthage which a few decades earlier had done its best to destroy Rome.The verse Scipio quoted and you didn't understand at all comes from Homer. As he is never mentioned in your Qyran I bet you have never heard about him. Anyway, the emotions shown by Scipio were not unique, but shared by many. Just take a look at what Polybius wrote about the public opinion in Greece a few chapters earlier.

Again, it's very typical ... to start a discussion and express silly opinions about things he has not the slightest clue about. Frankly, I haven't heard of any more experienced and malign liars than Moslems. "Nothing they say or do / is honest or true." ... This is not Homer , althought it might well have been. This is an ancient Buddhist verse I came across in my early youth. I long wondered who is meant here.After some time I realized. The Moslems ! Who else ?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".