History, is made up of the bad actions of extraordinary men and woman. All the most noted destroyers and deceivers of our species, all the founders of arbitrary governments and false religions have been extraordinary people; and nine tenths of the calamities that have befallen the human race had no other origin than the union of high intelligence with low desires.

Summary

This quote suggests that throughout history, it is often exceptional individuals who engage in negative actions that have a lasting impact. The quote emphasizes that many notorious figures responsible for destruction, deceit, the establishment of oppressive governments, and false religious beliefs possess extraordinary intellect but are driven by base desires. Furthermore, it argues that a significant portion of the calamities suffered by humanity can ultimately be traced back to the collaboration of high intelligence with immoral motivations.

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