Edward Gibbon Quotes - Page 11

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• It is impossible to reduce, or, at least, to hold a distant country against the wishes and efforts of its inhabitants.

  Edward Gibbon

  Country, Effort, Wish

  Edward Gibbon (1840). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.184

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• The simple circumstantial narrative (did such a narrative exist) of the ruin of a single town, of the misfortunes of a single family, might exhibit an interesting and instructive picture of human manners; but the tedious repetition of vague and declamatory complaints would fatigue the attention of the most patient reader.

  Edward Gibbon

  Simple, History, Interesting

  Edward Gibbon (1828). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.410

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• [We should] suspend our belief of every tale that deviates from the laws of nature and the character of man.

  Edward Gibbon

  Character, Men, Law

  Edward Gibbon (1855). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.89

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• The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of mind calmly to investigate, or candidly to appreciate, the motives of their enemies, which often escape the impartial and discerning view even of those who are placed at a secure distance from the flames of persecution.

  Edward Gibbon

  Distance, Views, Flames

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.307, Wordsworth Editions

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• Metellus Numidicus, the censor, acknowledged to the Roman people, in a public oration, that had kind nature allowed us to exist without the help of women, we should be delivered from a very troublesome companion; and he could recommend matrimony only as the sacrifice of private pleasure to public duty.

  Edward Gibbon

  Sacrifice, People, Helping

  Edward Gibbon (1825). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1: Complete in Eight Volumes”, p.180

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• The mixture of Sarmatic and German blood had contributed to improve the features of the Alani, to whiten their swarthy complexions, and to tinge their hair with a yellowish cast, which is seldom found in the Tartar race.

  Edward Gibbon

  Hair, Race, Blood

  Edward Gibbon, J. B. Bury (2012). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Edited in Seven Volumes with Introduction, Notes, Appendices, and Index”, p.90, Cambridge University Press

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• The emperor of the East was no longer guided by the wisdom and authority of his elder brother, whose death happened towards the end of the preceding year: and, as the distressful situation of the Goths required an instant and peremptory decision, he was deprived of the favourite resource of feeble and timid minds; who consider the use of dilatory and ambiguous measures as the most admirable efforts of consummate prudence.

  Edward Gibbon

  Brother, Years, History

  Edward Gibbon (2008). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.94, Cosimo, Inc.

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• The inactivity of a conqueror betrays the loss of strength and blood . . .

  Edward Gibbon

  Loss, Blood, Betray

  Edward Gibbon (1871). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.291

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• The dark cloud, which had been cleared by the Phoenician discoveries, and finally dispelled by the arms of Caesar, again settled on the shores of the Atlantic, and a Roman province [Britain] was again lost among the fabulous Islands of the Ocean.

  Edward Gibbon

  Ocean, Dark, Clouds

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

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• It has been calculated by the ablest politicians that no State, without being soon exhausted, can maintain above the hundredth part of its members in arms and idleness.

  Edward Gibbon

  Arms, Exhausted, Politician

  Edward Gibbon (1831). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire”, p.61

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• The ascent to greatness, however steep and dangerous, may entertain an active spirit with the consciousness and exercise of its own power: but the possession of a throne could never yet afford a lasting satisfaction to an ambitious mind.

  Edward Gibbon

  Exercise, Greatness, Mind

  Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.149

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• A martial nobility and stubborn commons, possessed of arms, tenacious of property, and collected into constitutional assemblies form the only balance capable of preserving a free constitution against the enterprise of an aspiring prince

  Edward Gibbon

  Freedom, Balance, Arms

  Edward Gibbon (1787). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.78

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• The urgent consideration of the public safety may undoubtedly authorize the violation of every positive law. How far that or any other consideration may operate to dissolve the natural obligations of humanity and justice, is a doctrine of which I still desire to remain ignorant.

  Edward Gibbon

  Law, Safety, History

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:”, p.732, Sheba Blake Publishing

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• Fear has been the original parent of superstition, and every new calamity urges trembling mortals to deprecate the wrath of their invisible enemies.

  Edward Gibbon

  Wrath, Parent, Enemy

  Edward Gibbon, J. B. Bury (2012). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Edited in Seven Volumes with Introduction, Notes, Appendices, and Index”, p.298, Cambridge University Press

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• Extreme distress, which unites the virtue of a free people, imbitters the factions of a declining monarchy.

  Edward Gibbon

  People, Virtue, Factions

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus”, p.336, 谷月社

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• A warlike nation like the Germans, without either cities, letters, arts, or money, found some compensation for this savage state in the enjoyment of liberty. Their poverty secured their freedom, since our desires and our possessions are the strongest fetters of despotism.

  Edward Gibbon

  Art, Cities, History

  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.359

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• Of human life, the most glorious or humble prospects are alike and soon bounded by the sepulchre.

  Edward Gibbon

  Humble, Human Life, Glorious

  Edward Gibbon, Francis Parkman, William H. Prescott, Theodore Roosevelt (2012). “The Modern Library Essential World History 4-Book Bundle: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Abridged); Montcalm and Wolfe; History of the Conquest of Mexico; The Naval War of 1812”, p.1460, Modern Library

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• So natural to man is the practice of violence that our indulgence allows the slightest provocation, the most disputable right, as a sufficient ground of national hostility.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Practice, Violence

  Edward Gibbon (2008). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.266, Cosimo, Inc.

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• The union of the Roman empire was dissolved; its genius was humbled in the dust; and armies of unknown barbarians, issuing from the frozen regions of the North, had established their victorious reign over the fairest provinces of Europe and Africa.

  Edward Gibbon

  Army, Dust, Europe

  Edward Gibbon (1837). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.526

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• The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of government. During a happy period (A.D. 98-180) of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines.

  Edward Gibbon

  Two, Government, Years

  Edward Gibbon (2009). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition”, p.48, Modern Library

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• Does there exist a single instance of a saint asserting that he himself possessed the gift of miracles?

  Edward Gibbon

  Miracle, Doe, Saint

  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.603, e-artnow

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• Julian was not insensible of the advantages of freedom. From his studies he had imbibed the spirit of ancient sages and heroes; his life and fortunes had depended on the caprice of a tyrant; and, when he ascended the throne, his pride was sometimes mortified by the reflection that the slaves who would not dare to censure his defects were not worthy to applaud his virtues.

  Edward Gibbon

  Hero, Pride, Reflection

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Edward Gibbon (Illustrated)”, p.965, Delphi Classics

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• Philosophy had instructed Julian to compare the advantages of action and retirement; but the elevation of his birth and the accidents of his life never allowed him the freedom of choice. He might perhaps sincerely have preferred the groves of the Academy and the society of Athens; but he was constrained, at first by the will, and afterwards by the injustice of Constantius, to expose his person and fame to the dangers of Imperial greatness; and to make himself accountable to the world and to posterity for the happiness of millions.

  Edward Gibbon

  Retirement, Philosophy, Greatness

  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.1005, e-artnow

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• While the Romans languished under the ignominious tyranny of eunuchs and bishops, the praises of Julian were repeated with transport in every part of the empire, except in the palace of Constantius.

  Edward Gibbon

  History, Bishops, Empires

  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.988, e-artnow

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• But a law, however venerable be the sanction, cannot suddenly transform the temper of the times . . .

  Edward Gibbon

  Law, Sanctions, Temper

  Edward Gibbon (1822). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.495

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