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Quotes from The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire — Edward Gibbon

1737–1794 England

← All quotes by Edward Gibbon

61 quotes

The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

In a distant age and climate the tragic scene of the death of Hussyn will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

The principles of a free constitution are irrecoverably lost, when the legislative power is nominated by the executive.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Vicissitudes of fortune, which spares neither man nor the proudest of his works, which buries empires and cities in a common grave.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

The true interest of an absolute monarch generally coincides with that of his people.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

In every deed of mischief he had a heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

A people elated by pride, or soured by discontent, is seldom qualified to form a just estimate of their actual situation.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

In every age the Persians have been addicted to intemperance, and the wines of Shiraz have triumphed over the law of Mahomet.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

A weak prince will always be governed by his domestics.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Such was the unhappy condition of the Roman emperors, that, whatever might be their conduct, their fate was commonly the same.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

The incredible speed which Maximin exerted in his flight is much more celebrated than his prowess in the battle.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

The silence of flattery is sometimes equal to the most positive and authentic evidence.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Wars, and the administration of public affairs, are the principal objects of history.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Those who refuse the sword must renounce the sceptre.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

The paths of error are various and infinite.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

All gates are shut against the unfortunate.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Civil governments, in their first institutions, are voluntary associations for mutual defence.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Like Augustus, Diocletian may be considered as the founder of a new empire.

The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Edward Gibbon (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.