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Edward Gibbon Quotes - Page 11

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Instructed by history and reflection, Julian was persuaded that, if the diseases of the body may sometimes be cured by salutary violence, neither steel nor fire can eradicate the erroneous opinions of the mind.

Instructed by history and reflection, Julian was persuaded that, if the diseases of the body may sometimes be cured by salutary violence, neither steel nor fire can eradicate the erroneous opinions of the mind.

Reflection, Fire, History

Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.473, Wordsworth Editions

During the games of the Circus, he had, imprudently or designedly, performed the manumission of a slave in the presence of the consul. The moment he was reminded that he had trespassed on the jurisdiction of another magistrate, he condemned himself to pay a fine of ten pounds of gold, and embraced this public occasion of declaring to the world that he was subject, like the rest of his fellow-citizens, to the laws, and even to the forms, of the republic.

Law, Games, History

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.427, Cambridge University Press

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.

Hero, Pride, Reflection

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

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.

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

But the human character, however it may be exalted or depressed by a temporary enthusiasm, will return by degrees to its proper and natural level, and will resume those passions that seem the most adapted to its present condition.

Passion, Character, History

Edward Gibbon (1998). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.269, Wordsworth Editions

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

Law, Sanctions, Temper

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

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.

Hope, Children, Writing

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

In this primitive and abject state [of hunters and gatherers], which ill deserves the name of society, the human brute, without arts or laws, almost without sense or language, is poorly distinguished from the rest of the animal creation.

Art, Animal, Law

[The] vain and transitory scenes of human greatness are unworthy of a serious thought.

Greatness, Serious, Scene

Edward Gibbon (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Edward Gibbon (Illustrated)”, p.1871, Delphi Classics

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.

Sacrifice, People, Helping

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

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.

Distance, Views, Flames

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

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.

Two, Government, Years

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

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

Book, Taste, Glory

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

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.

Blessing, Long, Tree

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

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

Historical, Humanity, Lists

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

Love, Son, Lovers

Memoirs of My Life ch. 4 (1796)

[The] events by which the fate of nations is not materially changed, leave a faint impression on the page of history, and the patience of the reader would be exhausted by the repetition of the same hostilities [between Rome and Persia], undertaken without cause, prosecuted without glory, and terminated without effect.

Fate, Rome, Events

Edward Gibbon (2009). “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition”, p.800, Modern Library

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

Spring, Crowds, April

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

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

Writing, Air, Castles

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

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.

Religious, Reflection, People

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

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.

Learning, Judging, Criticism

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

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

Excited, Interest, Personal Interest

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

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

Obscurity, Language, Obscenity

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

A false modesty is the meanest species of pride.

Pride, Modesty, Species

Edward Gibbon, John Baker Holroyd (1827). “Memoires of the Life and Writings of Edward Gibbon, Esq”, p.85

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.

Passion, Ideas, History

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

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