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”

  54 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

  63 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)

  3 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

  79 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

  19 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

  31 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.

  15 Copy quote

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

  Edward Gibbon

  Education, School, Men

  8 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

  7 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

  13 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)

  73 Copy quote

• The savage nations of the globe are the common enemies of civilized society; and we may inquire, with anxious curiosity, whether Europe is still threatened with a repetition of those calamities, which formerly oppressed the arms and institutions of Rome.

  Edward Gibbon

  Rome, Europe, Curiosity

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

  6 Copy quote

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

  Edward Gibbon

  Courage, Freedom, Ends

  35 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

  31 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)

  6 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

  9 Copy quote

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

  Edward Gibbon

  Life, Success, Winning

  27 Copy quote

• An extensive empire must be supported by a refined system of policy and oppression; in the centre, an absolute power, prompt in action and rich in resources; a swift and easy communication with the extreme parts; fortifications to check the first effort of rebellion; a regular administration to protect and punish; and a well-disciplined army to inspire fear, without provoking discontent and despair.

  Edward Gibbon

  Communication, Army, Effort

  Edward Gibbon (2008). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.302, Cosimo, Inc.

  16 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

  9 Copy quote

• The first of earthly blessings, independence.

  Edward Gibbon

  Single, Blessing, Independence

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.8, Wordsworth Editions

  6 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

  6 Copy quote

• The communication of ideas requires a similitude of thought and language . . .

  Edward Gibbon

  Communication, Ideas, Language

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V 5: the History Focus”, p.63, 谷月社

  12 Copy quote

• If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Names, Race

  1776-88 The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ch.3.

  23 Copy quote

• [Whole] generations may be swept away by the madness of kings in the space of a single hour.

  Edward Gibbon

  Kings, Space, Generations

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman (1860). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.440

  20 Copy quote

• In the field of controversy I always pity the moderate party, who stand on the open middle ground exposed to the fire of both sides.

  Edward Gibbon

  Party, Fire, Fields

  Edward Gibbon, J. B. Bury (2013). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Edited in Seven Volumes with Introduction, Notes, Appendices, and Index”, p.257, Cambridge University Press

  4 Copy quote

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