Edward Gibbon Quotes - Page 6

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• Agriculture is the foundation of manufactures; since the productions of nature are the materials of art. Under the Roman empire, the labour of an industrious and ingenious people was variously, but incessantly employed, in the service of the rich. In their dress, their table, their houses, and their furniture, the favourites of fortune united every refinement of conveniency, of elegance, and of splendour, whatever could soothe their pride or gratify their sensuality.

  Edward Gibbon

  Art, Pride, Agriculture

  Edward Gibbon (1841). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1: With Maps”, p.33

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• A state of skepticism and suspense may amuse a few inquisitive minds. But the practice of superstition is so congenial to the multitude that, if they are forcibly awakened, they still regret the loss of their pleasing vision.

  Edward Gibbon

  Regret, Loss, Practice

  Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman, M. Guizot (François), William Smith (1872). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.68

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• Truth, naked, unblushing truth, the first virtue of all serious history, must be the sole recommendation of this personal narrative.

  Edward Gibbon

  History, Naked, Narrative

  Edward Gibbon (1862). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.2

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• To a lover of books the shops and sales in London present irresistible temptations.

  Edward Gibbon

  Book, Temptation, London

  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.97

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• Imam Hussain's sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of rightousness.

  Edward Gibbon

  Sacrifice, Community, Groups

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• At that time the archiepiscopal throne of Alexandria was filled by Theophilus, the perpetual enemy of peace and virtue; a bold, bad man, whose hands were alternately polluted with gold and with blood.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Blood, Hands

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus”, p.48, 谷月社

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• The love of spectacles was the taste, or rather passion, of the Syrians: the most skilful artists were procured form the adjacent cities; a considerable share of the revenue was devoted to the public amusements; and the magnificence of the games of the theatre and circus was considered as the happiness, and as the glory, of Antioch.

  Edward Gibbon

  Passion, Artist, Games

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.510, Wordsworth Editions

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• War, in its fairest form, implies a perpetual violation of humanity and justice.

  Edward Gibbon

  War, Justice, Humanity

  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.871, Modern Library

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• It is incumbent on us diligently to remember that the kingdom of heaven was promised to the poor in spirit, and that minds afflicted by calamity and the contempt of mankind cheerfully listen to the divine promise of future happiness; while, on the contrary, the fortunate are satisfied with the possession of this world; and the wise abuse in doubt and dispute their vain superiority of reason and knowledge.

  Edward Gibbon

  Wise, History, Heaven

  Edward Gibbon (1854). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.217

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• History, in fact, is no more than a list of the crimes of humanity, human follies and accidents

  Edward Gibbon

  Historical, Humanity, Lists

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• There is more pleasure to building castles in the air than on the ground.

  Edward Gibbon

  Writing, Air, Castles

  Edward Gibbon (1869). “The Autobiography and Correspondence of Edward Gibbon, the Historian”, p.164

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• At the hour of midnight the Salerian gate was silently opened, and the inhabitants were awakened by the tremendous sound of the Gothic trumpet. Eleven hundred and sixty-three years after the foundation of Rome, the Imperial city, which had subdued and civilised so considerable a part of mankind, was delivered to the licentious fury of the tribes of Germany and Scythia.

  Edward Gibbon

  Rome, Years, Cities

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• The valuable library of Alexandria was pillaged or destroyed; and near twenty years afterwards, the appearance of the empty shelves excited the regret and indignation of every spectator whose mind was not totally darkened by religious prejudice. The compositions of ancient genius, so many of which have irretrievably perished, might surely have been excepted from the wreck of idolatry, for the amusement and instruction of succeeding ages.

  Edward Gibbon

  Religious, Regret, 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.96, Modern Library

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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 fortune of nations has often depended on accidents . . .

  Edward Gibbon

  Fortune, Accidents, Nations

  Edward Gibbon, François Guizot (1859). “Guizot's Gibbon: History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.510

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• Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.

  Edward Gibbon

  Thank You, Wisdom, Gratitude

  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.374, e-artnow

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• Vicissitudes of fortune, which spares neither man nor the proudest of his works, which buries empires and cities in a common grave.

  Edward Gibbon

  Men, Cities, Empires

  Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.358

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• Persuasion is the resource of the feeble; and the feeble can seldom persuade . . .

  Edward Gibbon

  Persuasion, Resources

  'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776-88) ch. 68

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• Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each revelation is suited to the emergencies of his policy or passion; and all contradiction is removed by the saving maxim that any text of Scripture is abrogated or modified by any subsequent passage.

  Edward Gibbon

  Passion, Perfect, Saving

  Edward Gibbon (1830). “The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. By Edward Gibbon, Esq. Printed From The Edition In Twelve Volumes. With An Introductory Memoir Of The Author, By William Youngman”, p.913

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• [Every age], however destitute of science or virtue, sufficiently abounds with acts of blood and military renown.

  Edward Gibbon

  Military, Blood, Age

  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.1804, e-artnow

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• Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

  Edward Gibbon

  Sympathy, Suffering, Misery

  'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776-88) ch. 49

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• A people who still remembered that their ancestors had been the masters of the world would have applauded, with conscious pride, the representation of ancient freedom, if they had not long since been accustomed to prefer the solid assurance of bread to the unsubstantial visions of liberty and greatness.

  Edward Gibbon

  Pride, Greatness, Long

  Edward Gibbon (1820). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.165

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• A jurisdiction thus vague and arbitrary was exposed to the most dangerous abuse: the substance, as well as the form, of justice were often sacrificed to the prejudices of virtue, the bias of laudable affection, and the grosser seductions of interest or resentment.

  Edward Gibbon

  Justice, Abuse, Arbitrary

  Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V4: the History Focus”, p.186, 谷月社

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• The retirement of Athanasius, which ended only with the life of Constantius, was spent, for the most part, in the society of the monks, who faithfully served him as guards, as secretaries, and as messengers; but the importance of maintaining a more intimate connection with the catholic party tempted him, whenever the diligence of the pursuit was abated, to emerge from the desert, to introduce himself into Alexandria, and to trust his person to the discretion of his friends and adherents.

  Edward Gibbon

  Retirement, Party, History

  Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.437, Wordsworth Editions

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• It was no longer esteemed infamous for a Roman to survive his honor and independence.

  Edward Gibbon

  Independence, Honor, Infamous

  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.516, e-artnow

  4 Copy quote

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