edward-gibbon Quotes About reason

“Whatever evils either reason or declamation have imputed to extensive empire, the power of Rome was attended with some beneficial consequences to mankind; and the same freedom of intercourse which extended the vices, diffused likewise the improvements of social life.”

Reason Evil Social History Mankind Consequence Vices Improvement Empires Rome Beneficial Intercourse Social Life Roman Empire Declamation

Book:The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:

“The virtue of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was of a severer and more laborious kind. It was the well-earned harvest of many a learned conference, of many a patient lecture, and many a midnight lucubration. At the age of twelve years, he embraced the rigid system of the Stoics, which taught him to submit his body to his mind, his passions to his reason; to consider virtue as the only good, vice as the only evil, all things external as things indifferent.”

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

“Yet the arts of Severus cannot be justified by the most ample privileges of state reason. He promised only to betray; he flattered only to ruin; and however he might occasionally bind himself by oaths and treaties, his conscience, obsequious to his interest, always released him from the inconvenient obligation.”

Art States Reason Might Interest History Conscience Privilege Obligation Ruins Betray Justified Oath Treaties Roman Empire Inconvenient Flattered

Book:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The German huts, open on every side to the eye of indiscretion or jealousy, were a better safeguard of conjugal fidelity than the walls, the bolts, and the eunuchs of a persian harem. To this reason, another may be added of a more honourable nature. The Germans treated their women with esteem and confidence, consulted them on every occasion of importance, and fondly believed that in their breasts resided a sanctity and wisdom more than human.”

Source: 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

“It is incumbent on us diligently to remember that the kingdom of heaven was promised to the poor in spirit, and that minds afflicted by calamity and the contempt of mankind cheerfully listen to the divine promise of future happiness; while, on the contrary, the fortunate are satisfied with the possession of this world; and the wise abuse in doubt and dispute their vain superiority of reason and knowledge.”

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

“But how shall we excuse the supine inattention of the Pagan and philosophic world to those evidences which were presented by the hand of Omnipotence, not to their reason, but to their senses? During the age of Christ, of his apostles, and their first disciples, the doctrine which they preached was confirmed by innumerable prodigies. The lame walked, the blind saw, the sick were healed, the dead were raised, daemons were expelled, and the laws of Nature were frequently suspended for the benefit of the church.”

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

“The frequent repetition of miracles serves to provoke, where it does not subdue, the reason of mankind.”

Doe Reason History Mankind Miracle Provoking Repetition Roman Empire

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

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

“The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring the earth. Euclid is perpetually in their hands. Aristotle and Theophrastus are the objects of their admiration; and they express an uncommon reverence for the works of Galen. Their errors are derived from the abuse of the arts and sciences of the infidels, and they corrupt the simplicity of the gospel by the refinements of human reason.”

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Edward Gibbon (Illustrated)

“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

“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.”

Ifs Art Reason Laughing Progress Mankind Discovery Philosopher Folly Temper Contrast Rapids Mischievous Gunpowder

Author:Edward Gibbon

“There is nothing perhaps more adverse to nature and reason than to hold in obedience remote countries and foreign nations, in opposition to their inclination and interest.”

Country Reason Nations Interest Obedience Opposition Inclination Adverse

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

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

“Women [in ancient Rome] were condemned to the perpetual tutelage of parents, husbands, or guardians; a sex created to please and obey was never supposed to have attained the age of reason and experience. Such, at least, was the stern and haughty spirit of the ancient law . . .”

Reason Age Law Spirit Sex Parent Please Husband Ancient Rome Perpetual Guardian Ancient Rome Haughty Age Of Reason Tutelage

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 peace of the Eastern church was invaded by a swarm of fanatics [monks], incapable of fear, or reason, or humanity; and the Imperial troops acknowledged, without shame, that they were much less apprehensive of an encounter with the fiercest Barbarians.”

Reason Humanity Church Shame Encounters Troops Incapable Eastern Monk Fanatics Barbarians Swarms

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 monks'] minds were inaccessible to reason or mercy . . .”

Mind Reason Mercy Monk Inaccessible

Author:Edward Gibbon

“The law of nature instructs most animals to cherish and educate their infant progeny. The law of reason inculcates to the human species the returns of filial piety.”

Humans Reason Law Animal Return Species Cherish Educate Infant Laws Of Nature Piety Human Species Progeny Filial Filial Piety

Book:Guizot's Gibbon: History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

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

“The desire of perfection became the ruling passion of their soul; and it is well known, that while reason embraces a cold mediocrity, our passions hurry us, with rapid violence, over the space which lies between the most opposite extremes.”

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

“[The] emperor of the West, the feeble and dissolute Valentinian, [had] reached his thirty-fifth year without attaining the age of reason or courage.”

Years Reason Age West Thirty Fifth Emperor Age Of Reason

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

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

“According to the law of custom, and perhaps of reason, foreign travel completes the education of an English gentleman.”

Reason Law Gentleman Customs Foreign Travel English Gentleman

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

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

“'I believe in one God and Mohammed the Apostle of God,' is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honours of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.”

Source: 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

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