Inaction And Inertia Of The Intellectuals Have Done Harm To Mankind.......Lord Byron

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 20 April 2024 "Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves." -Lord Byron April 19 is Lord Byron's 200th Death Anniversary ----- Lord Byron's quote, "Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves," reflects his passionate belief in the power of reasoning and independent thinking. According to Byron, individuals who refuse to engage in rational discussions and fail to consider different perspectives are trapped in their own narrow-mindedness, making them bigots. Furthermore, he asserts that those who lack the ability to reason are deemed foolish, as they are unable to grasp the intricacies of complex ideas. Lastly, those who choose not to voice their thoughts and opinions, out of fear or conformity, become enslaved in a system where their individuality and freedom of expression are suppressed. Lord Byron's powerful words serve as a reminder to always embrace reason, challenge one's beliefs, and courageously defend one's freedom of thought. British Poet-laureate Sir Andrew Motion, who wrote Byron's biography, opined that Byron disliked those who, despite their thinking abilities, remained sluggish and inert. Byron wrote, "A volcano that erupts just once in its lifetime is much better than a dormant volcano which is as good as dead.' Most of us are dead or dormant volcanoes. We dare not erupt. Iqbal said the same thing in Zarb-e-Kalim, albeit in a different way, "Khuda Tujhe Kisi Toofaan Seaashna Kar De/ Ke Tere Bahar Ki Maujon Mein Iztiraab Nahin/ Tujhe Kitaab Se Mumkin Nahin Faraagh Ke Tu/ Kitaab-Khwan Hai, Saahib-E-Kitaab Nahin (May god expose you to a tempest/ For, the ripples of your sea are too placid/ You're not tired of books because you've just read them but failed to assimilate their essence). Yes, we're all scared to voice our thoughts and opinions despite knowing that something is terribly amiss and things are going astray. "To be aware of the impending end/ Yet choosing to keep mum/ This is utter impotency, my friend/ And an insult to your freedom" (William Butler Yeats). Inaction and inertia of the intellectuals have done more harm to mankind than the impetuousness of the certified fools. Mankind looks at those who have the abilities to bring about a change. But when they look askance for fear of backlash, world suffers a lot. "Jin Se Ummeed Thi Kuchh Kar Guzarne Ki/ Haif, Ve Hi Khamosh Rahe Ta-Zindagi" (Those, we expected, would effect a change/ Alas, they remained silent till the end). Swinging into action is always very difficult for those who're cerebral and far-sighted. But this is not a desirable trait because, "Aaghaaz Se Pahle Anjaam Ka Dar Hota Hai/ Doorandesh Bada Tang Nazar Hota Hai" (Scared of the consequences well before the beginning/A far-sighted person is often too hidebound). In these times of oppression and subjugation, we need revolutionary voices and individuals who can script an altogether new chapter of freedom, fearlessness and liberty. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/intellectuals-harm-mankind-lord-byron/d/132167 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism