Greek is doubtless the most perfect [language] that has been contrived by the art of man. Edward Gibbon More Quotes by Edward Gibbon More Quotes From Edward Gibbon In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader. Edward Gibbon climateintellectualage As long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors, the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters. Edward Gibbon militarycharacterwar Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is God than that God is a cruel and capricious tyrant. Edward Gibbon tyrantsatheistchristian Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity. Edward Gibbon emotionhumanityfeelings The mathematics are distinguished by a particular privilege, that is, in the course of ages, they may always advance and can never recede. Edward Gibbon epicagemath I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a son. Edward Gibbon loversloveson Truth, naked, unblushing truth, the first virtue of all serious history, must be the sole recommendation of this personal narrative. Edward Gibbon nakednarrativehistory Every event, or appearance, or accident, which seems to deviate from the ordinary course of nature has been rashly ascribed to the immediate action of the Deity. Edward Gibbon eventsordinaryreligion History, in fact, is no more than a list of the crimes of humanity, human follies and accidents Edward Gibbon listshistoricalhumanity Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive. Edward Gibbon gratitudewisdomthank-you Where error is irreparable, repentance is useless. Edward Gibbon repentanceerrorsuseless It is scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated. Edward Gibbon eyemilitarymen 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. Edward Gibbon citieshistoryart 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. Edward Gibbon safetylawhistory 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. Edward Gibbon savingpassionperfect It was Rome, on the fifteenth of October, 1764, as I sat musing amidst the ruins of the Capitol, while the barefooted friars were singing vespers in the Temple of Jupiter, that the idea of writing the decline and fall of the city first started to my mind. Edward Gibbon romewritingfall The love of liberty was the ruling passion of these Germans; the enjoyment of it, their best treasure; the word that expressed that enjoyment the most pleasing to their ear. They deserved, they assumed, they maintained the honourable epithet of Franks or Freemen; which concealed, though it did not extinguish, the peculiar names of the several states of the confederacy. Edward Gibbon passionnameshistory We stand in need of such reflections to comfort us for the loss of some illustrious characters, which in our eyes might have seemed the most worthy of the heavenly present. The names of Seneca, of the elder and the younger Pliny, of Tacitus, of Plutarch, of Galen, of the slave Epictetus, and of the emperor Marcus Antoninus, adorn the age in which they flourished, and exalt the dignity of human natures. Edward Gibbon eyelosscharacter 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. Edward Gibbon wiseheavenhistory If this Punic war was carried on without any effusion of blood, it was owing much less to the moderation than to the weakness of the contending prelates. Edward Gibbon warhistoryblood
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