Washington, DC - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "The world lost a true scholar and great man, Bernard Lewis, this past week.

"There is less knowledge and less wit with us today following his passing. I met him only once, but read much of what he wrote. I owe a great deal of my understanding of the Middle East to his work. Mr. Lewis was a hard-nosed defender of democracies around the world - including in the Middle East. He was also man who believed, as I do, that Americans must be more confident in the greatness of our country, not less. Thank you Lewis for your life of service, well done."