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1930 · PDF PAGE 6

The Banned Lecture

…ould have created a sympathetic atmosphere. But since we are talking about Waterloo, we may ask ourselves what, roughly speaking, is the extent of our knowledge ? I have heard plenty of theories about why Napoleon lost the battle. I have been told that he was already suffering from the disease which killed him. I have been told that he was outgeneralled by Wellington. I have been told that his army of conscripts was underfed and not properly drilled. I have also been told that the battle was won by the Belgians. Now, all these things are merely…

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1930 · PDF PAGE 11

The Banned Lecture

…were certain bodies of people who did carry on the old knowledge, mostly by oral tradition, and who were perforce tolerated to a certain extent, because even the little knowledge that they did possess was so exceedingly useful. The best way to make armour, or to build Cathedrals, or to heal sickness would enable the Christian to get ahead of his friends. Therefore, although conscience evidently demanded the maximum amount of persecution compatible with the existence of villains, the Jews and the Arabs were at least allowed to live. Besides, the…

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1930 · PDF PAGE 18

The Banned Lecture

…pular view of medicine and pharmacy in Pickwick. I think, then, it is not altogether unfair to assume that Gilles de Rais was to a large extent the victim of Catholic logic. Catholic logic: and the foul wish- phantasms generated of its repressions, and of its fear and ignorance. He wanted to confer to a boon on humanity ; therefore he consorted with the learned ; therefore he murdered little children. I think it is about time that somebody got after J. B. S. Haldane. It is too late to do anything more to Ridley and Latimer, but I am quite sure …

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1930 · PDF PAGE 7

The Banned Lecture

…nd La Haye Sainte would not have been able to nourish the contending forces. But though it is profitable for the soul to contemplate the extent of what we don’t know, it is in some ways more satisfying to our baser natures to consider what we do know in a reasonable sense of the word. It is not disputable that the battle of Waterloo was fought and won. It is not disputable that it was the climax, or rather the denouement, of cam- paigns lasting over a number of years. And there is no reason for doubting that Napoleon was born in Corsica, that h…

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