Edward Gibbon Quotes - Page 13

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• The author himself is the best judge of his own performance; none has so deeply meditated on the subject; none is so sincerely interested in the event.

  Edward Gibbon

  Learning, Judging, Criticism

  Edward Gibbon (1969). “Memoirs of My Life: Edited from the Manuscripts by Georges A. Bonnard”

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• The policy of the emperors and the senate, as far as it concerned religion, was happily seconded by the reflections of the enlightened, and by the habits of the superstitious, part of their subjects. 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. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord.

  Edward Gibbon

  Religious, Reflection, People

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

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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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• The orator, who may be silent without danger, may praise without difficulty and without reluctance; and posterity will confess that the character of Theodosius might furnish the subject of a sincere and ample panegyric. The wisdom of his laws and the success of his arms rendered his administration respectable in the eyes both of his subjects and of his enemies. He loved and practised the virtues of domestic life, which seldom hold their residence in the palaces of kings.

  Edward Gibbon

  Kings, Eye, Character

  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.47, Modern Library

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• In populous cities, which are the seat of commerce and manufactures, the middle ranks of inhabitants, who derive their subsistence from the dexterity or labour of their hands, are commonly the most prolific, the most useful, and, in that sense, the most respectable part of the community.

  Edward Gibbon

  Hands, Cities, History

  Edward Gibbon (1846). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.113

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• In less than seven years the vestiges of the Gothic invasion were almost obliterated, and the city appeared to resume its former splendour and tranquillity. The venerable matron replaced her crown of laurel, which had been ruffled by the storms of war, and was still amused in the last moment of her decay with the prophecies of revenge, of victory, and of eternal dominion.

  Edward Gibbon

  Revenge, War, Years

  Edward Gibbon (2008). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.338, Cosimo, Inc.

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• But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor can it reasonably be presumed that the restoration of British freedom was exempt from tumult and faction. The pre-eminence of birth and fortune must have been frequently violated by bold and popular citizens; and the haughty nobles, who complained that they were become the subjects of their own servants, would sometimes regret the reign of an arbitrary monarch.

  Edward Gibbon

  Regret, Escaping, History

  Edward Gibbon (1840). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.100

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• The division of the Roman world between the sons of Theodosius marks the final establishment of the empire of the East, which, from the reign of Arcadius to the taking of Constantinople by the Turks, subsisted one thousand and fifty-eight years in a state of premature and perpetual decay.

  Edward Gibbon

  Son, Eight, Years

  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.304, Modern Library

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• The spectator and historian of [Belisarius's] exploits has observed, that amidst the perils of war, he was daring without rashness, prudent without fear, slow or rapid according to the exigencies of the moment; that in the deepest distress he was animated by real or apparent hope, but that he was modest and humble in the most prosperous fortune.

  Edward Gibbon

  Real, War, Humble

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman (1840). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.143

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• [The] penalty of death was abolished in the Roman empire, a law of mercy most delightful to the humane theorist, but of which the practice, in a large and vicious community, is seldom consistent with the public safety.

  Edward Gibbon

  Law, Practice, Safety

  Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.152

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• Boethius might have been styled happy, if that precarious epithet could be safely applied before the last term of the life of man.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Might, Lasts

  Edward Gibbon (1788). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.37

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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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• 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 terror of the Roman arms added weight and dignity to the moderation of the emperors. They preserved the peace by a constant preparation for war.

  Edward Gibbon

  War, Preparation, Weight

  Edward Gibbon (2009). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition”, p.15, Modern Library

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• [Personal] industry must be faint and languid, which is not excited by the sense of personal interest.

  Edward Gibbon

  Excited, Interest, Personal Interest

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.740, Wordsworth Editions

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• My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the decent obscurity of a learned language.

  Edward Gibbon

  Obscurity, Language, Obscenity

  Edward Gibbon (1900). “The Memoirs of the Life of Edward Gibbon with Various Observations and Excursions”

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• In old age the consolation of hope is reserved for the tenderness of parents, who commence a new life in their children, the faith of enthusiasts, who sing hallelujahs above the clouds; and the vanity of authors, who presume the immortality of their name and writings.

  Edward Gibbon

  Hope, Children, Writing

  Edward Gibbon (1827). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Edward Gibbon, 1”, p.258

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• On the approach of spring, I withdraw without reluctance from the noisy and extensive scene of crowds without company, and dissipation without pleasure.

  Edward Gibbon

  Spring, Crowds, April

  "Memoirs". Book by Edward Gibbon, Vol. i. p. 116, 1796.

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• I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a son.

  Edward Gibbon

  Love, Son, Lovers

  Memoirs of My Life ch. 4 (1796)

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• The value of money has been settled by general consent to express our wants and our property, as letters were invented to express our ideas; and both these institutions, by giving a more active energy to the powers and passions of human nature, have contributed to multiply the objects they were designed to represent.

  Edward Gibbon

  Passion, Ideas, History

  Edward Gibbon (1781). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.317

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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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• The authority of Plato and Aristotle, of Zeno and Epicurus, still reigned in the schools; and their systems, transmitted with blind deference from one generation of disciples to another, precluded every generous attempt to exercise the powers, or enlarge the limits, of the human mind.

  Edward Gibbon

  Plato, School, Exercise

  Edward Gibbon (1840). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1”, p.55

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• The Indian who fells the tree that he may gather the fruit, and the Arab who plunders the caravans of commerce are actuated by the same impulse of savage nature, and relinquish for momentary rapine the long and secure possession of the most important blessings.

  Edward Gibbon

  Blessing, Long, Tree

  Edward Gibbon, H. H. Milman (1856). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.425

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• A taste for books, which is still the pleasure and glory of my life.

  Edward Gibbon

  Book, Taste, Glory

  Edward Gibbon (1869). “The Autobiography and Correspondence of Edward Gibbon, the Historian”, p.330

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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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