The subject, however various and important, has already been so frequently, so ably, and so successfully discussed, that it is now grown familiar to the reader, and difficult to the writer. Edward Gibbon More Quotes by Edward Gibbon More Quotes From Edward Gibbon The policy of the emperors and the senate, as far as it concerned religion, was happily seconded by the reflections of the enlightened, and by the habits of the superstitious, part of their subjects. 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. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord. Edward Gibbon religious reflection people I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past. Edward Gibbon future science past bizarreness masqueraded as creativity. Edward Gibbon shock creativity The ascent to greatness, however steep and dangerous, may entertain an active spirit with the consciousness and exercise of its own power: but the possession of a throne could never yet afford a lasting satisfaction to an ambitious mind. Edward Gibbon greatness mind exercise To a philosophic eye, the vices of the clergy are far less dangerous than their virtues. Edward Gibbon virtue eye vices A martial nobility and stubborn commons, possessed of arms, tenacious of property, and collected into constitutional assemblies form the only balance capable of preserving a free constitution against the enterprise of an aspiring prince Edward Gibbon arms balance freedom There is more pleasure to building castles in the air than on the ground. Edward Gibbon castles air writing In old age the consolation of hope is reserved for the tenderness of parents, who commence a new life in their children, the faith of enthusiasts, who sing hallelujahs above the clouds; and the vanity of authors, who presume the immortality of their name and writings. Edward Gibbon hope writing children The history of empires is the record of human misery; the history of the sciences is that of the greatness and happiness of mankind. Edward Gibbon empires misery humans To an active mind, indolence is more painful than labor. Edward Gibbon indolence painful mind The end comes when we no longer talk with ourselves. It is the end of genuine thinking and the beginning of the final loneliness. Edward Gibbon being-alone loneliness time But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burdens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord. Edward Gibbon escaping political desire The union of the Roman empire was dissolved; its genius was humbled in the dust; and armies of unknown barbarians, issuing from the frozen regions of the North, had established their victorious reign over the fairest provinces of Europe and Africa. Edward Gibbon army dust europe Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for [Augustus] to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms; and that, in the prosecution of remote wars, the undertaking became every day more difficult, the event more doubtful, and the possession more precarious and less beneficial. Edward Gibbon rome events war Freedom is the first wish of our heart; freedom is the first blessing of nature; and unless we bind ourselves with voluntary chains of interest or passion, we advance in freedom as we advance in years Edward Gibbon passion blessing heart Religion is a mere question of geography. Edward Gibbon mere geography In the purer ages of the commonwealth, the use of arms was reserved for those ranks of citizens who had a country to love, a property to defend, and some share in enacting those laws which it was their interest, as well as duty, to maintain. But in proportion as the public freedom was lost in extent of conquest, war was gradually improved into an art, and degraded into a trade. Edward Gibbon war country art So natural to man is the practice of violence that our indulgence allows the slightest provocation, the most disputable right, as a sufficient ground of national hostility. Edward Gibbon violence practice men The pains and pleasures of the body, howsoever important to ourselves, are an indelicate subject of conversation Edward Gibbon pain body important Whenever the spirit of fanaticism, at once so credulous and so crafty, has insinuated itself into a noble mind, it insensibly corrodes the vital principles of virtue and veracity. Edward Gibbon noble principles mind
