Military Quote by Edward gibbon
““The army is the only order of men sufficiently united to concur in the same sentiments, and powerful enough to impose them on the rest of their fellow-citizens; but the temper of soldiers, habituated at once to violence and to slavery, renders them very unfit guardians of a legal, or even a civil constitution.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1776
The military, while capable of uniting people, becomes desensitized to violence and authority, making it unsuitable to protect civil liberties and constitutional law.
In simple terms: Soldiers are good at force but poor at safeguarding freedom.
Key Takeaway
Rethink the role of armed forces in civil society.
Themes
military
citizenship
authority
civil liberties
constitution
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government oversight
- constitutional reform
- civil rights advocacy
Key Concepts
political theory
civil-military relations
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance security with civil freedoms?
- What safeguards prevent soldiers from becoming oppressors?
A Different Perspective
Military power alone cannot ensure democratic governance.
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![“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)
