edward-gibbon Quotes About people

“And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord. The superstition of the people was not embittered theological rancor.”

People Religious Mutual Superstitions Indulgence Theological Toleration Rancor

Book:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: The Modern Library Collection (Complete and Unabridged)

Source: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: The Modern Library Collection (Complete and Unabridged)

“I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.”

People Mistake Opinion Respect Arguing Life And Love Disrespect No Respect Respect People Opposing Views Conflicting Opinions Opposers

Author:Edward Gibbon

“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.”

People World States Religion Church History Atheism Worship Philosopher Various Rome Roman Empire Superstitious Atheistic Magistrates Fall Of Rome

Author:Edward Gibbon

“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.”

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1: With Maps

“The character of the tribunes was, in every respect, different from that of the consuls. The appearance of the former was modest and humble; but their persons were sacred and inviolable. Their force was suited rather for opposition than for action. They were instituted to defend the oppressed, to pardon offences, to arraign the enemies of the people, and, when they judged it necessary, to stop, by a single word, the whole machine of government.”

Source: 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

“To resume, in a few words, the system of the Imperial government, as it was instituted by Augustus, and maintained by those princes who understood their own interest and that of the people, it may be defined an absolute monarchy disguised by the forms of a commonwealth. The masters of the Roman world surrounded their throne with darkness, concealed their irresistible strength, and humbly professed themselves the accountable ministers of the senate, whose supreme decrees they dictated and obeyed.”

Source: 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

“Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.”

People Stills Names History Mankind Expectations Slavery Ancient Enjoyed Sensible Senate Submit Assured Deceived Roman Empire Augustus

Book:The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The two Antonines (for it is of them that we are now speaking) governed the Roman world forty-two years, with the same invariable spirit of wisdom and virtue. ... Their united reigns are possibly the only period of history in which the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government.”

People World Years Two Government Spirit United History Virtue Objects Periods Forty Two Years Sole Reign Great People Roman Empire

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

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“The Germans, in the age of Tacitus, were unacquainted with the use of letters; and the use of letters is the principal circumstance that distinguishes a civilised people from a herd of savages incapable of knowledge or reflection. Without that artificial help, the human memory soon dissipates or corrupts the ideas intrusted to her charge; and the nobler faculties of the mind, no longer supplied with models or with materials, gradually forget their powers; the judgment becomes feeble and lethargic, the imagination languid or irregular.”

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The possession and the enjoyment of property are the pledges which bind a civilised people to an improved country.”

People Country History Property Possession Enjoyment Pledge Roman Empire Civilised

Book:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The barbarians of Germany had felt, and still dreaded, the arms of the young Caesar; his soldiers were the companions of his victory; the grateful provincials enjoyed the blessings of his reign; but the favourites, who had opposed his elevation, were offended by his virtues; and they justly considered the friend of the people as the enemy of the court.”

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“If Julian had flattered himself that his personal connexion with the capital of the East would be productive of mutual satisfaction to the prince and people, he made a very false estimate of his own character, and of the manners of Antioch. The warmth of the climate disposed the natives to the most intemperate enjoyment of tranquillity and opulence; and the lively licentiousness of the Greeks was blended with the hereditary softness of the Syrians.”

Source: The Student's Gibbon: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“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.”

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“Yet the people, and even the clergy, incapable of forming any rational judgment of the business of peace and war, presumed to arraign the policy of Stilicho, who so often vanquished, so often surrounded, and so often dismissed the implacable enemy of the republic. The first moment of the public safety is devoted to gratitude and joy; but the second is diligently occupied by envy and calumny.”

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“The imprudent Maximus disregarded these salutary considerations: he gratified his resentment and ambition; he saw the bleeding corpse of Valentinian at his feet; and he heard himself saluted Emperor by the unanimous voice of the senate and people. But the day of his inauguration was the last day of his happiness.”

People Lasts Voice History Saws Heard Feet Ambition Consideration Senate Resentment Corpses Emperor Bleeding Roman Empire Last Day Inauguration Disregarded

Book:History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus

Source: History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus

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

People Dangerous Provoking

Book:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: The Modern Library Collection (Complete and Unabridged)

Source: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: The Modern Library Collection (Complete and Unabridged)

“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.”

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“Genius may anticipate the season of maturity; but in the education of a people, as in that of an individual, memory must be exercised, before the powers of reason and fancy can be expanded: nor may the artist hope to equal or surpass, till he has learned to imitate, the works of his predecessors.”

People May Reason Artist Individual Memories Genius Equal Seasons Maturity Fancy Anticipate Predecessors

Book:The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: 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.”

People Vain Disposition Rebellious Servitude

Author:Edward Gibbon

“The aspiring efforts of genius, or virtue, either in active or speculative life, are measured, not so much by their real elevation, as by the height to which they ascend above the level of their age and country; and the same stature, which in a people of giants would pass unnoticed, must appear conspicuous in a race of pygmies.”

People Real Country Age Levels Effort Race Virtue Genius Active Height Giants Stature Unnoticed Elevation

Book: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

Source: 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

“A Locrian, who proposed any new law, stood forth in the assembly of the people with a cord round his neck, and if the law was rejected, the innovator was instantly strangled.”

People Ifs Law Rounds Necks Rejected Assembly Innovators Cords

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

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“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.”

People Should Kind Helping Pleasure Sacrifice Duty Companion Matrimony Troublesome

Book:The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1: Complete in Eight Volumes

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1: Complete in Eight Volumes

“Extreme distress, which unites the virtue of a free people, imbitters the factions of a declining monarchy.”

People Virtue Extremes Distress Monarchy Factions

Book:History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus

Source: History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire V3: the History Focus