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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

  Edward Gibbon

  Spiritual, Atheist, Ignorance

  25 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

• 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

• 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

• I have somewhere heard or read the frank confession of a Benedictine abbot: "My vow of poverty has given me a hundred thousand crowns a year; my vow of obedience has raised me to the rank of a sovereign prince." - I forget the consequences of his vow of chastity.

  Edward Gibbon

  Years, Crowns, Poverty

  Edward Gibbon (2016). “THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (All 6 Volumes): From the Height of the Roman Empire, the Age of Trajan and the Antonines - to the Fall of Byzantium; Including a Review of the Crusades, and the State of Rome during the Middle Ages”, p.1758, e-artnow

  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

• Hope, the best comfort of our imperfect condition.

  Edward Gibbon

  Hope, Comfort, Anticipation

  Edward Gibbon (1846). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.45

  7 Copy quote

• Language is the leading principle which unites or separates the tribes of mankind.

  Edward Gibbon

  Principles, Tribes, Language

  EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ. (1838). “THE HISTORY OF THE DECLIINE AND FALL OF THE EMPIRE”, p.338

  4 Copy quote

• The separation of the Arabs from the rest of mankind has accustomed them to confound the ideas of stranger and enemy.

  Edward Gibbon

  Ideas, Enemy, Separation

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.788, Wordsworth Editions

  9 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

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