“Genius, when employed in works whose tendency it is to demoralize and to degrade us, should be contemplated with abhorrence rather than with admiration; such a monument of its power, may indeed be stamped with immortality, but like the Coliseum at Rome, we deplore its magnificence because we detest the purposes for which it was designed.” ShouldMayPurposeGeniusTendenciesImmortalityAdmirationRomeEmployedMonumentDegradeDetestMagnificenceAbhorrenceColiseum Book:Lacon: or, Many things in few words Source: Lacon: or, Many things in few words
“The true key to the declension of the Roman empire which is not to be found in all Gibbon 's immense work may be stated in two words: the imperial character overlaying, and finally destroying, the national character. Rome under Trajan was an empire without a nation.” MayTwoCharacterFoundNationsKeysEmpiresDestroyingRomeImmenseRoman Empire Book:Specimens of the table talk Source: Specimens of the table talk