All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did.

T E Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British officer, diplomat, linguist, memoirist, writer [Thomas Edward Lawrence, a/k/a T. E. Shaw, "Lawrence of Arabia"]
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, “Introductory Chapter” (1935)
    (Source)

Oxford Edition (1922):

This, therefore, is a faded dream of the time when I went down into the dust and noise of the Eastern market-place, and with my brain and muscles, with sweat and constant thinking, made others see my visions coming true. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible. This I did.

This introductory chapter varies between different editions, and is even missing in some. The history of different versions and editions of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom is complex.


 
Added on 22-Nov-10 | Last updated 7-Nov-24
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