Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
Book I: The Discovery of Feisal explained
Lawrence reflects on the misfortunes of the Arab Revolt, attributing them to faulty leadership.
What happens
Lawrence reflects on the misfortunes of the Arab Revolt, attributing them to faulty leadership. He travels to Arabia to assess the key figures, finding the Sherif of Mecca aged, Abdulla too clever, Ali too clean, Zeid too cool, and finally discovering in Feisal the necessary fire and reason. He returns to Egypt confident that Feisal's position in Jebel Subh provides a flank-threat that defends Mecca more effectively than the obstacle of Rabegh.
Themes in this chapter
Leadership and Strategy
Lawrence evaluates the leadership qualities of Arab figures, ultimately finding Feisal as the ideal leader to combine fire with reason.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrator and observer who travels to Arabia to assess Arab leaders.
- Sherif Hussein
Aged Sherif of Mecca, found to be too old for effective leadership.
- Sherif Abdulla
Found to be too clever.
- Sherif Ali ibn el Hussein
Found to be too clean.
- Sherif Zeid
Found to be too cool.
- Emir Feisal
Discovered as the leader with necessary fire and reason, providing a flank-threat from Jebel Subh.
Key passages
“I had believed these misfortunes of the Revolt to be due mainly to faulty leadership, or rather to the lack of leadership, Arab and English.”
Lawrence thought the Revolt's failures stemmed from poor or absent leadership on both sides.
Sets up the chapter's central theme of leadership assessment.
“I found Abdulla too clever, Ali too clean, Zeid too cool.”
Lawrence found each of the Sherif's sons lacking in some essential quality.
Highlights Lawrence's critical evaluation of the Arab leaders.
“Then I rode upcountry to Feisal, and found in him the leader with the necessary fire, and yet with reason to give effect to our science.”
Feisal combined passion with rationality, making him the ideal leader to implement modern military tactics.
Key moment of discovery that shapes Lawrence's subsequent actions.