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The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Book by Edward Gibbon · 7 quotes · Mind, Admirable, Ambiguous

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The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Quotes

“A nation ignorant of the equal benefits of liberty and law, must be awed by the flashes of arbitrary power: the cruelty of a despot will assume the character of justice; his profusion, of liberality; his obstinacy, of firmness.”

CharacterLawNationsJusticeLibertyEqualBenefitsAssumingIgnorantCrueltyFlashArbitraryFirmnessDespotsObstinacyLiberality
Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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“In the productions of the mind, as in those of the soil, the gifts of nature are excelled by industry and skill . . .”

MindIndustrySkillsProductionsSoil
Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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“But the wisdom and authority of the legislator are seldom victorious in a contest with the vigilant dexterity of private interest.”

InterestAuthorityContestsLegislatorsVigilantDexterity
Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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“Man has much more to fear from the passions of his fellow-creatures, than from the convulsions of the elements.”

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Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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“The progress of manufactures and commerce insensibly collects a large multitude within the walls of a city: but these citizens are no longer soldiers; and the arts which adorn and improve the state of civil society, corrupt the habits of the military life.”

ArtStatesCitiesProgressMilitaryWallHabitCitizensSoldierCommerceMultitudesCivil SocietyMilitary Life
Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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“When a public quarrel is envenomed by private injuries, a blow that is not mortal or decisive can be productive only of a short truce, which allows the unsuccessful combatant to sharpen his arms for a new encounter.”

ArmsBlowMortalsEncountersInjuryProductiveQuarrelsUnsuccessfulTruce
Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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“Feeble and timid minds . . . consider the use of dilatory and ambiguous measures as the most admirable efforts of consummate prudence.”

MindUseEffortPrudenceAdmirableAmbiguous
Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
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