Wisdom

Writing in Tablet, Paul Berman muses about ISIS' barbarities and concludes:

Mankind is not a lesson-learning entity. Civilizations can learn lessons. But civilizations come and go. Impassive mankind remains uninstructable and stupid, such that, if once upon a time the barbarities of the 7th century thrilled and inspired a substantial portion of mankind, we can be confident that 7th-century barbarities will remain forevermore a viable possibility.

A demonstrable truth. Hat tip to RealClearWorld for the link.