I’ve been reading Imperium by Ryszard Kapuscinski. He’s an interesting writer, and I’ll write more about his books some other time. I ran across something today in Imperium that made me stop and think.

A Turkman that has lived long enough to have a gray beard knows everything. His head is full of wisdom; his eyes have read the book of life. … He knows that the sun brings life, but he also knows that the sun brings death, which no European really understands. …

A dressed man is thinking, an undressed one — no. A naked man is capable of committing every stupidity. Those who created great things were always dressed. In Sumeria and Mesopotamia, in Samarkand and Baghdad, despite the diabolical heat, people walked about dressed. Great civilizations arose there, which neither Australia nor the African equator, where people walked naked in the sun, can boast of. All you need do is read the history of the world.

Now, I could debate whether the Romans were really dressed (I realize that he’s focusing on hot places, so maybe this isn’t a valid comparison). I also could argue that the great civilizations in Mexico (Aztecs) and the Incas in South America might not be considered dressed. But, in the end, I don’t have a clear reason why this bothers me. Any takers?