Edward Gibbon Quotes

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• The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the cause of the destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and, as soon as time or accident and removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight. The story of the ruin is simple and obvious: and instead of inquiring why the Roman Empire was destroyed we should rather be surprised that it has subsisted for so long.

  Edward Gibbon

  Simple, Greatness, Rome

  Edward Gibbon (1906). “The History of the Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire”

  56 Copy quote

• In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all – security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again.

  Edward Gibbon

  Wisdom, Responsibility, Libertarian Party

  65 Copy quote

• I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.

  Edward Gibbon

  Respect, Life And Love, Mistake

  82 Copy quote

• The Roman government appeared every day less formidable to its enemies, more odious and oppressive to its subjects.

  Edward Gibbon

  Government, Enemy, Formidable

  Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.313

  21 Copy quote

• In the second century of the Christian era, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind.

  Edward Gibbon

  Christian, Book, Rome

  Edward Gibbon (1871). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.1

  10 Copy quote

• History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.

  Edward Gibbon

  War, History, Tourism

  'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776-88) ch. 3.

  17 Copy quote

• The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful.

  Edward Gibbon

  Rome, People, History

  The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ch. 2 (1776 - 1788)

  77 Copy quote

• Every man who rises above the common level has received two educations: the first from his teachers; the second, more personal and important, from himself.

  Edward Gibbon

  Education, Teacher, Teaching

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Edward Gibbon (Illustrated)”, p.5019, Delphi Classics

  16 Copy quote

• Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.

  Edward Gibbon

  Single, Wisdom, Loneliness

  Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.277

  35 Copy quote

• The best and most important part of every man's education is that which he gives himself.

  Edward Gibbon

  Education, School, Men

  10 Copy quote

• A nation ignorant of the equal benefits of liberty and law, must be awed by the flashes of arbitrary power: the cruelty of a despot will assume the character of justice; his profusion, of liberality; his obstinacy, of firmness.

  Edward Gibbon

  Character, Law, Justice

  Edward Gibbon (2016). “The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.3359, e-artnow

  33 Copy quote

• I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.

  Edward Gibbon

  Future, Science, Past

  9 Copy quote

• In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.

  Edward Gibbon

  Courage, Freedom, Ends

  37 Copy quote

• The principles of a free constitution are irrecoverably lost, when the legislative power is nominated by the executive.

  Edward Gibbon

  Power, Principles, Constitution

  'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776-88) ch. 3

  10 Copy quote

• There exists in human nature a strong propensity to depreciate the advantages, and to magnify the evils, of the present times.

  Edward Gibbon

  Strong, History, Evil

  Edward Gibbon (2000). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume II: A.D. 395 to A.D. 1185 (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.253, Modern Library

  12 Copy quote

• In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.

  Edward Gibbon

  Intellectual, Age, Climate

  Edward Gibbon, M. Guizot (François) (1854). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.529

  8 Copy quote

• I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes.

  Edward Gibbon

  Money, Wish, Income

  11 Copy quote

• We improve ourselves by victories over ourselves. There must be contest, and we must win.

  Edward Gibbon

  Life, Success, Winning

  29 Copy quote

• Our ignorance is God; what we know is science.

  Edward Gibbon

  Spiritual, Atheist, Ignorance

  25 Copy quote

• All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance.

  Edward Gibbon

  Wisdom, Growth, Doe

  'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776-88) ch. 71

  9 Copy quote

• So long as mankind shall continue to lavish more praise upon its destroyers than upon its benefactors war shall remain the chief pursuit of ambitious minds.

  Edward Gibbon

  Military, War, Long

  8 Copy quote

• A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.

  Edward Gibbon

  Heart, Hands, Action

  'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776-88) ch. 48 (on Comenus)

  8 Copy quote

• The first and indispensable requisite of happiness is a clear conscience.

  Edward Gibbon

  Happiness, Firsts, Clear

  Edward Gibbon (1854). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire, with notes by Milman and Guizot. Ed. by W. Smith”, p.127

  10 Copy quote

• [Instead] of inquiring why the Roman empire was destroyed, we should rather be surprised that it had subsisted so long.

  Edward Gibbon

  Long, Empires, Inquiring

  Edward Gibbon (1840). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”

  5 Copy quote

• It is scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated.

  Edward Gibbon

  Military, Eye, Men

  The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ch. 2 (1776 - 1788)

  4 Copy quote

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