Obama, who is becoming more and more preacher-like, wants to be the Punisher-in-Chi ef of the Western World, the Avenger-in-Chie f. There… — Robert Fisk Copy Share Image
The two Antonines (for it is of them that we are now speaking) governed the Roman world forty-two years, with the same… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“The gods were gone, but imperial status remained unchanged –divinus remained a technical term meaning ‘imperial’. The emperor’s position was all the… — Chris Wickham Copy Share Image
In less than seven years the vestiges of the Gothic invasion were almost obliterated, and the city appeared to resume its former… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The German huts, open on every side to the eye of indiscretion or jealousy, were a better safeguard of conjugal fidelity than… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“The Chinese had first learned of the Roman Empire in 139 B.C., when the emperor Wudi had sent an envoy, Zhang Qian,… — Mark Kurlansky Copy Share Image
Instead of pressing, with the foremost of the crowd, into the palace of Constantinople, Libanius calmly expected his arrival at Antioch; withdrew… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“Bears?” Epaphroditus wrinkled his nose. “Everyone knows Prometheus was tormented by vultures. Every day they tore out his entrails, and every night… — Steven Saylor Copy Share Image
Julian was not insensible of the advantages of freedom. From his studies he had imbibed the spirit of ancient sages and heroes;… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty, was successfully practised; honours, gifts, and immunities were offered and accepted as the price… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“I see, I see! From association Messala, in boyhood, was almost a Jew; had he remained here, he might have become a… — Lew Wallace Copy Share Image
Sixty thousand blacks are annually embarked from the coast of Guinea, never to return to their native country; but they are embarked… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
But this inestimable privilege was soon violated: with the knowledge of truth the emperor imbibed the maxims of persecution; and the sects… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
His sumptuous tents, and those of his satraps, afforded an immense booty to the conqueror; and an incident is mentioned which proves… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
In the past, Britons were scathing about the cruelties of the old Roman empire and the excesses of Catholic empire builders such… — Linda Colley Copy Share Image
The grateful applause of the clergy has consecrated the memory of a prince, who indulged their passions and promoted their interest. Constantine… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“Mankind in the aggregate I have found to be brutish, ignorant and unkind, whether those qualities were covered by the coarse tunic… — John Williams Copy Share Image
During the games of the Circus, he had, imprudently or designedly, performed the manumission of a slave in the presence of the… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“Ten years, fifty days and three, Clau-Clau-Clau- shall given be A gift that all desire but he. To a fawning fellowship He… — Robert Graves Copy Share Image
The love of liberty was the ruling passion of these Germans; the enjoyment of it, their best treasure; the word that expressed… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The barbarians of Germany had felt, and still dreaded, the arms of the young Caesar; his soldiers were the companions of his… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The technologies which have had the most profound effects on human life are usually simple. A good example of a simple technology… — Freeman Dyson Copy Share Image
The archiepiscopal throne of Macedonius, which had been polluted with so much Christian blood, was successively filled by Eudoxus and Damophilus. Their… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Jesus himself, and most of the message of the Gospels, is a message of service to the poor, a critique of the… — Noam Chomsky Copy Share Image
I think democracies are prone to inflation because politicians will naturally spend [excessively] - they have the power to print money and… — Charlie Munger Copy Share Image
Christianity began with 120 in the Upper Room, within three centuries it had become the predominant religion of the Roman Empire. What… — C. Wagner Copy Share Image
Yet the people, and even the clergy, incapable of forming any rational judgment of the business of peace and war, presumed to… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Agriculture is the foundation of manufactures; since the productions of nature are the materials of art. Under the Roman empire, the labour… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
In populous cities, which are the seat of commerce and manufactures, the middle ranks of inhabitants, who derive their subsistence from the… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The pastoral labours of the archbishop of Constantinople provoked and gradually united against him two sorts of enemies; the aspiring clergy, who… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
At the hour of midnight the Salerian gate was silently opened, and the inhabitants were awakened by the tremendous sound of the… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The orator, who may be silent without danger, may praise without difficulty and without reluctance; and posterity will confess that the character… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
“The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The ancients were destitute of many of the conveniences of life which have been invented or improved by the progress of industry;… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Today you can buy the Dialogues of Plato for less than you would spend on a fifth of whiskey, or Gibbon's Decline… — Louis L'Amour Copy Share Image
The complaints of contemporary writes, who deplore the increase of luxury and deprevation of manners, are commonly expressive of their peculiar temper… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Although the progress of civilisation has undoubtedly contributed to assuage the fiercer passions of human nature, it seems to have been less… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the course of the narrative; but the interruption will be censured only by… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
A small number of temples was protected by the fears, the venality, the taste, or the prudence of the civil and ecclesiastical… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The retirement of Athanasius, which ended only with the life of Constantius, was spent, for the most part, in the society of… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
![“I think democracies are prone to inflation because politicians will naturally spend [excessively] - they have the power to print money and will use money to get votes. If you look at inflation under the Roman Empire, with absolute rulers, they had much greater inflation, so we don't set the…” quote by Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/charlie-munger-458_absolutes_i-think-democracies-are-prone-to-inflati_1006251.jpg)
