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Edward Gibbon

Edward Gibbon Quotes

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Famous Edward Gibbon Quotes

“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.”

ArtStatesDesireFoundNationsCitiesLibertyPovertyHistoryLettersPossessionEnjoymentStrongestSavagesCompensationDespotismRoman EmpireSecuredFetters
Book:The history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire, with notes by Milman and Guizot. Ed. by W. Smith
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“The urgent consideration of the public safety may undoubtedly authorize the violation of every positive law. How far that or any other consideration may operate to dissolve the natural obligations of humanity and justice, is a doctrine of which I still desire to remain ignorant.”

MayStillsLawDesireHumanityNaturalJusticeHistorySafetyObligationDoctrineIgnorantConsiderationUrgentViolationRoman EmpireVery PositivePublic Safety
Book:The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:
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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.”

ShouldLongStoriesCausesNaturalSimplePrinciplesSupportEffectsGreatnessDestructionWeightPressureProsperityObviousAccidentsDestroyedRuinsInevitableEmpiresRomeArtificialDeclineDecayFabricConquestRoman EmpireInquiring
Book:The History of the Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire
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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.”

PassionPerfectPolicyDivineScriptureSavingRevelationsContradictionPassagesPerpetualMaximsEmergenciesFragmentsDiscretionDivine Will
Book: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
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“One must search diligently to find laudatory comments on education (other than those pious platitudes which are fodder for commencement speeches). It appears that most persons who have achieved fame and success in the world of ideas are cynical about formal education. These people are a select few, who often achieved success in spite of their education, or even without it. As has been said, the clever largely educate themselves, those less able aren't sufficiently clever or imaginative to benefit much from education.”

PeopleWorldPersonsHas BeensSaidIdeasAbleEducationFameSpeechBenefitsCleverSpiteCommentEducateCynicalFormalImaginativeSelectPiousCommencementPlatitudesAchieved SuccessFormal EducationFodderCommencement Speech
Author:Edward Gibbon
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“The most sublime efforts of philosophy can extend no farther than feebly to point out the desire, the hope, or, at most, the probability, of a future state, there is nothing, except a divine revelation, that can ascertain the existence, and describe the condition of the invisible country which is destined to receive the souls of men after their separation from the body.”

MenSoulCountryStatesPhilosophyBodyDesireEffortExistenceConditionsDivineSeparationInvisibleRevelationsSublimeProbabilityDestinedDivine Revelation
Book:The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition
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