Edward Gibbon

That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and…

— Edward Gibbon

The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper…

— Edward Gibbon

A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.

— Edward Gibbon

[In] the national and religious conflict of the [Byzantine and Saracen] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy.

— Edward Gibbon

Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of…

— Edward Gibbon

Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes…

— Edward Gibbon

It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.

— Edward Gibbon

If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human…

— Edward Gibbon

If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of…

— Edward Gibbon

But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of…

— Edward Gibbon

[Every] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war.

— Edward Gibbon

The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed…

— Edward Gibbon

The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.

— Edward Gibbon

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

— Edward Gibbon

A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does…

— Edward Gibbon

The philosopher, who with calm suspicion examines the dreams and omens, the miracles and prodigies, of profane or even of ecclesiastical history,…

— Edward Gibbon

In old age the consolation of hope is reserved for the tenderness of parents, who commence a new life in their children,…

— Edward Gibbon

“During many ages, the prediction, as it is usual, contributed to its own accomplishment. ”

— Edward Gibbon

Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty, was successfully practised; honours, gifts, and immunities were offered and accepted as the price…

— Edward Gibbon

Rational confidence [is] the just result of knowledge and experience.

— Edward Gibbon

To an active mind, indolence is more painful than labor.

— Edward Gibbon

In discussing Barbarism and Christianity I have actually been discussing the Fall of Rome.

— Edward Gibbon

An absolute monarch, who is rich without patrimony, may be charitable without merit; and Constantine too easily believed that he should purchase…

— Edward Gibbon

The orator, who may be silent without danger, may praise without difficulty and without reluctance; and posterity will confess that the character…

— Edward Gibbon

A philosopher may deplore the eternal discords of the human race, but he will confess, that the desire of spoil is a…

— Edward Gibbon