Accident Quote by Edward Gibbon
“Every event, or appearance, or accident, which seems to deviate from the ordinary course of nature has been rashly ascribed to the immediate action of the Deity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1776
People often blame divine intervention for unusual events instead of natural explanations.
In simple terms: We attribute oddities to gods instead of science.
Key Takeaway
Consider natural causes before supernatural ones.
Themes
faith
explanation
science
history
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
theology
causality
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we default to divine causes?
- How can we promote rational explanations?
A Different Perspective
Religious explanations can hinder scientific inquiry.
![“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)
