Top 25 Quotes by Edward Gibbon of 355 - Page 13

Theodosius was chaste and temperate; he enjoyed, without excess, the sensual and social pleasures of the table, and the warmth of his amorous passions was never diverted from their lawful objects. The proud titles of

Theodosius was chaste and temperate; he enjoyed, without excess, the sensual and social pleasures of the table, and the warmth of his amorous passions was never diverted from their lawful objects. The proud titles of Imperial greatness were adorned by the tender names of a faithful husband, an indulgent father; his uncle was raised, by his affectionate esteem, to the rank of a second parent.

Edward Gibbon

Uncles, Husband, Father

Edward Gibbon (2015). “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus”, p.26, 谷月社

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

The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.

Edward Gibbon

Progress, Purpose, Despotism

Such events may be disbelieved or disregarded; but the charity of a bishop, Acacius of Amida, whose name might have dignified the saintly calendar, shall not be lost in oblivion.

Edward Gibbon

Names, History, Events

Edward Gibbon (1821). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.209

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

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.

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

The pains and pleasures of the body, howsoever important to ourselves, are an indelicate subject of conversation

Edward Gibbon

Pain, Important, Body

Edward Gibbon (1961). “Autobiography”

Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for [Augustus] to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms; and that, in the prosecution of remote wars, the undertaking became every day more difficult, the event more doubtful, and the possession more precarious and less beneficial.

Edward Gibbon

War, Rome, Events

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.59, Modern Library

[Arabs are] a people, whom it is dangerous to provoke, and fruitless to attack.

Edward Gibbon

People, Dangerous, Provoking

Edward Gibbon (2013). “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: The Modern Library Collection (Complete and Unabridged)”, p.894, Modern Library

Discussing the attempts of Augustus' generals to add to the extent of the Roman Empire early in his reign: The northern countries of Europe scarcely deserved the expense and labour of conquest. The forests and morasses of Germany were filled with a hardy race of barbarians, who despised life when it was separated from freedom; and though, on the first attack, they seemed to yield to the weight of the Roman power, they soon, by a signal act of despair, regained their independence, and reminded Augustus of the vicissitude of fortune.

Edward Gibbon

Country, Yield, Race

The ruin of Paganism, in the age of Theodosius, is perhaps the only example of the total extirpation of any ancient and popular superstition; and may therefore deserve to be considered, as a singular event in the history of the human mind.

Edward Gibbon

Mind, Age, Ruins

Edward Gibbon (1854). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.272

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

I darted a contemptuous look at the stately models of superstition.

Edward Gibbon

Superstitions, Looks, Belief

Yet the experience of four thousand years should enlarge our hopes, and diminish our apprehensions: we cannot determine to what height the human species may aspire in their advances towards perfection; but it may safely be presumed, that no people, unless the face of nature is changed, will relapse into their original barbarism.

Edward Gibbon

Years, Perfection, People

Edward Gibbon (1846). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.445

The laws of war, that restrain the exercise of national rapine and murder, are founded on two principles of substantial interest: the knowledge of the permanent benefits which may be obtained by a moderate use of conquest, and a just apprehension lest the desolation which we inflict on the enemy's country may be retaliated on our own. But these considerations of hope and fear are almost unknown in the pastoral state of nations.

Edward Gibbon

Country, War, Exercise

Edward Gibbon (1840). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.161

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

[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

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”

The vain, inconstant, rebellious disposition of the people [of Armorica], was incompatible either with freedom or servitude.

Edward Gibbon

People, Rebellious, Vain

The archiepiscopal throne of Macedonius, which had been polluted with so much Christian blood, was successively filled by Eudoxus and Damophilus. Their diocese enjoyed a free importation of vice and error from every province of the empire; the eager pursuit of religious controversy afforded a new occupation to the busy idleness of the metropolis: and we may credit the assertion of an intelligent observer, who describes, with some pleasantry, the effects of their loquacious zeal.

Edward Gibbon

Christian, Religious, Intelligent

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.21, Modern Library

When Julian ascended the throne, he declared his impatience to embrace and reward the Syrian sophist, who had preserved, in a degenerate age, the Grecian purity of taste, of manners and of religion. The emperor's prepossession was increased and justified by the discreet pride of his favourite.

Edward Gibbon

Pride, History, Age

Edward Gibbon (1840). “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, p.137

The active cavalry of Scythia is always followed, in their most distant and rapid incursions, by an adequate number of spare horses, who may be occasionally used, either to redouble the speed, or to satisfy the hunger, of the barbarians. Many are the resources of courage and poverty.

Edward Gibbon

Horse, Numbers, History

Edward Gibbon (1840). “The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire”, p.239

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

If we contrast the rapid progress of this mischievous discovery [gunpowder] with the slow and laborious advances of reason, science, and the arts of peace, a philosopher, according to his temper, will laugh or weep at the folly of mankind.

Edward Gibbon

Art, Discovery, Laughing

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ch. 65 (1776 - 1788)

Edward Gibbon Quotes - Page 13

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