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Their reason for killing and destroying such an infinite number of souls is that the Christians have an ultimate aim, which is to acquire gold, and to swell themselves with riches in a very brief time and thus rise to a high estate disproportionate to their merits.

— Bartolomé de las Casas History of the Indies (1561)

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More quotes by Bartolomé de las Casas

Christ wanted love to be called his single commandment. This we owe to all men. Nobody is excepted.

In Defense of the Indians (1548)

These people are the most devoid of rancors, hatreds, or desire for vengeance of any people in the world.

History of the Indies (1561)

It should be kept in mind that their insatiable greed and ambition, the greatest ever seen in the world, is the cause of their villainies.

History of the Indies (1561)

More than thirty other islands in the vicinity of San Juan are for the most part and for the same reason depopulated, and the land laid waste.

History of the Indies (1561)

After the wars and the killings had ended, when usually there survived only some boys, some women, and children, these survivors were distributed among the Christians to be slaves.

History of the Indies (1561)

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