I was never less alone than when by myself. Edward Gibbon More Quotes by Edward Gibbon More Quotes From Edward Gibbon It is the first care of a reformer to prevent any future reformation. Edward Gibbon reformerscarefirsts We may therefore acquiesce in the pleasing conclusion, that every age of the world has increased, and still increases, the real wealth, the happiness, the knowledge, and perhaps the virtue, of the human race. Edward Gibbon realraceage A false modesty is the meanest species of pride. Edward Gibbon speciesmodestypride According to the law of custom, and perhaps of reason, foreign travel completes the education of an English gentleman. Edward Gibbon gentlemanlawreason [Personal] industry must be faint and languid, which is not excited by the sense of personal interest. Edward Gibbon personal-interestexcitedinterest [Every] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. Edward Gibbon delayfamewar [In] the national and religious conflict of the [Byzantine and Saracen] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. Edward Gibbon byzantinereligiouswar [We should] suspend our belief of every tale that deviates from the laws of nature and the character of man. Edward Gibbon lawcharactermen It was no longer esteemed infamous for a Roman to survive his honor and independence. Edward Gibbon infamousindependencehonor Boethius might have been styled happy, if that precarious epithet could be safely applied before the last term of the life of man. Edward Gibbon lastsmightmen A bloody and complete victory has sometimes yielded no more than the possession of the field and the loss of ten thousand men has sometimes been sufficient to destroy, in a single day, the work of ages. Edward Gibbon victorylossmen Majorian presents the welcome discovery of a great and heroic character, such as sometimes arise, in a degenerate age, to vindicate the honor of the human species. Edward Gibbon honordiscoverycharacter It is impossible to reduce, or, at least, to hold a distant country against the wishes and efforts of its inhabitants. Edward Gibbon effortwishcountry [The] emperor of the West, the feeble and dissolute Valentinian, [had] reached his thirty-fifth year without attaining the age of reason or courage. Edward Gibbon westageyears 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. Edward Gibbon discoverylaughingart The terror of the Roman arms added weight and dignity to the moderation of the emperors. They preserved the peace by a constant preparation for war. Edward Gibbon preparationweightwar Language is the leading principle which unites or separates the tribes of mankind. Edward Gibbon tribeslanguageprinciples [The] operation of the wisest laws is imperfect and precarious. They seldom inspire virtue, they cannot always restrain vice. Edward Gibbon viceslawinspire I have somewhere heard or read the frank confession of a Benedictine abbot: "My vow of poverty has given me a hundred thousand crowns a year; my vow of obedience has raised me to the rank of a sovereign prince." - I forget the consequences of his vow of chastity. Edward Gibbon crownspovertyyears Man has much more to fear from the passions of his fellow-creatures, than from the convulsions of the elements. Edward Gibbon creaturespassionmen
