The fortune of nations has often depended on accidents . . .

The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the cause of the destruction…

— Edward Gibbon

But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…

— Edward Gibbon

My figures come and go, suggested by fortune or misfortune. I try to fix them divested of their apparent accidental quality.

— Max Beckmann

A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…

— Edward Gibbon

From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…

— Edward Gibbon

There is no art or science that is too difficult for industry to attain to; it is the gift of tongues, and makes a…

— Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon

Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…

— Annie Ernaux

I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…

— Amy Schumer

By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.

— Jawaharlal Nehru

Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…

— Gordon Willis

The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…

— Philip Roth

In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…

— John Edensor Littlewood

No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.

— Sally Ride

It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…

— Francine Rivers

Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.

— Sebastian Thrun