[The] operation of the wisest laws is imperfect and precarious. They seldom inspire virtue, they cannot always restrain vice. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
[All] the manly virtues were oppressed by the servile and pusillanimous reign of the monks. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
[The] liberty of divorce does not contribute to happiness and virtue. The facility of separation would destroy all mutual confidence, and inflame… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Truth, naked, unblushing truth, the first virtue of all serious history, must be the sole recommendation of this personal narrative. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Extreme distress, which unites the virtue of a free people, imbitters the factions of a declining monarchy. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The patient and active virtues of a soldier are insensibly nursed in the habits and discipline of a pastoral life. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
To a philosophic eye, the vices of the clergy are far less dangerous than their virtues. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
It was [Totila's] constant theme, that national vice and ruin are inseparably connected; that victory is the fruit of moral as well… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Such was the unhappy condition of the Roman emperors, that, whatever might be their conduct, their fate was commonly the same. A… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
We may therefore acquiesce in the pleasing conclusion, that every age of the world has increased, and still increases, the real wealth,… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Whenever the spirit of fanaticism, at once so credulous and so crafty, has insinuated itself into a noble mind, it insensibly corrodes… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The fierce and partial writers of the times, ascribing all virtue to themselves, and imputing all guilt to their adversaries, have painted… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
A jurisdiction thus vague and arbitrary was exposed to the most dangerous abuse: the substance, as well as the form, of justice… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The aspiring efforts of genius, or virtue, either in active or speculative life, are measured, not so much by their real elevation,… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
That public virtue which among the ancients was denominated patriotism, is derived from a strong sense of our own interest in the… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The manly pride of the Romans, content with substantial power, had left to the vanity of the East the forms and ceremonies… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Fashion was the only law, pleasure the only pursuit, and the splendour of dress and furniture was the only distinction of the… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The love of action is a principle of a much stronger and more doubtful nature. It often leads to anger, to ambition,… — 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
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
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
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
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
At that time the archiepiscopal throne of Alexandria was filled by Theophilus, the perpetual enemy of peace and virtue; a bold, bad… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The virtue of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was of a severer and more laborious kind. It was the well-earned harvest of many a… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
'I believe in one God and Mohammed the Apostle of God,' is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
[Every age], however destitute of science or virtue, sufficiently abounds with acts of blood and military renown. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
[In] the national and religious conflict of the [Byzantine and Saracen] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
[Every] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring… — Edward Gibbon Copy Share Image
![“[The] operation of the wisest laws is imperfect and precarious. They seldom inspire virtue, they cannot always restrain vice.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb3/edward-gibbon-710_character_the-operation-of-the-wisest-laws-is-impe_490418.jpg)
![“[All] the manly virtues were oppressed by the servile and pusillanimous reign of the monks.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb5/edward-gibbon-710_manly_all-the-manly-virtues-were-oppressed-by_2529391.jpg)
![“[The] liberty of divorce does not contribute to happiness and virtue. The facility of separation would destroy all mutual confidence, and inflame every trifling dispute . . .” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/252/edward-gibbon-710_confidence_the-liberty-of-divorce-does-not-contribu_1297231.jpg)
![“It was [Totila's] constant theme, that national vice and ruin are inseparably connected; that victory is the fruit of moral as well as military virtue; and that the prince, and even the people, are responsible for the crimes which they neglect to punish.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/edward-gibbon-710_connected_it-was-totila-s-constant-theme-that-nati_2666395.jpg)
![“[Every age], however destitute of science or virtue, sufficiently abounds with acts of blood and military renown.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6a/edward-gibbon-710_age_every-age-however-destitute-of-science-o_2933113.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
![“[In] the national and religious conflict of the [Byzantine and Saracen] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/338/edward-gibbon-710_byzantine_in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-o_29382.jpg)
![“[Every] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4de/edward-gibbon-710_delay_every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and_94668.jpg)
