The problems of civilization and society are largely problems of power,
and in particular of political and economic power. Yet peace and
welfare cannot be secured by political negotiations and economic
arrangements alone. When truth and the values of the spirit are
treated only as instruments of power, they are transformed by
oppositions of power into fanaticism which seeks to impose one view of
truth by use of arbitrary power. The fanaticisms of our times have
many causes. One, which is frequently alleged, is the fear, real or
trumped up, of an opposed irrational fanaticism. Opposition to
fanaticism tends to breed fanaticisms dedicated to the destruction of
error. Tolerance seems a weakness in a conflict of powers; yet
tolerance is the only rational alternative to organized irrational
clashes. The cause of fanaticism, underlying fears and tensions, is
ignorance of other historical traditions of thought and culture.
-- Richard McKeon "Foreward" p. vi. The Edicts of
Asoka Ed. and Tr. by N.A. Nikam and Richard Mckeon. 1959.