--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it was reserved for Augustus to…" description: "\"“it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png" --- # it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious… ![“it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png) > ““it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils.”” [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power should be tempered with moderation to avoid overreach and preserve stability. **In simple terms:** Power needs balance. Key Takeaway Seek moderation in leadership. Themes power moderation governance Mood reflective serious Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - political decision making - corporate governance - personal ambition Key Concepts political philosophy ethical restraint Questions to Reflect On - When is boldness more appropriate than moderation? - How can you balance ambition with restraint? A Different Perspective Excessive caution can stifle necessary change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) [Augustus Relinquish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus-relinquish-5068499/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Relinquish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relinquish/) [Relinquish Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relinquish-ambitious-5068501/) [Reserved Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserved-augustus-5068498/) ## Related quotes > [“but it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-governed-by-names-nor-was-he/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [To resume, in a few words, the system of the Imperial government, as it was instituted by Augustus, and maintained by those princes who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/to-resume-in-a-few-words-the-system-of-the-imperial-government-as-it/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for \[Augustus\] to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/inclined-to-peace-by-his-temper-and-situation-it-was-easy-for/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Discussing the attempts of Augustus' generals to add to the extent of the Roman Empire early in his reign: The northern countries of Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/discussing-the-attempts-of-augustus-generals-to-add-to-the-extent-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“To relinquish yourself carries no shame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/to-relinquish-yourself-carries-no-shame/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [When you go in there and fight, you pretty much relinquish and give up the right to make any excuses about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-benavidez/when-you-go-in-there-and-fight-you-pretty-much-relinquish-and-give-up/) [Joseph Benavidez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-benavidez/) > [A burning itch to know is higher than a solemn vow to pursue truth. To feel the burning itch of curiosity requires both that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/a-burning-itch-to-know-is-higher-than-a-solemn-vow-to-pursue-truth-to/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“The time has come. I really feel I must relinquish my former identity. I have to try to make a change, or I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wu-ming-yi/the-time-has-come-i-really-feel-i-must-relinquish-my-former-identity/) [Wu Ming-Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wu-ming-yi/) > [If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/if-this-glorious-birth-to-death-hassle-is-the-only-hassle-we-are-ever/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [Do not attempt to do a thing unless you are sure of yourself; but do not relinquish it simply because someone else is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-attempt-to-do-a-thing-unless-you-are-sure-of-yourself-but-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whatsoever i cannot relinquish to God is my god”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/whatsoever-i-cannot-relinquish-to-god-is-my-god/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“When we agonize over those things outside ourselves, the hurt we feel is measured by the weight we alone give it. Therefore, we alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/when-we-agonize-over-those-things-outside-ourselves-the-hurt-we-feel/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [Most of all, I am struck by an irony central to the lot of a purebred dog: As it attains the hallmarks of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hanff-korelitz/most-of-all-i-am-struck-by-an-irony-central-to-the-lot-of-a-purebred/) [Jean Hanff Korelitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hanff-korelitz/) > [You can be debased without relinquishing your identity, just as you can relinquish your identity without being debased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-fisher/you-can-be-debased-without-relinquishing-your-identity-just-as-you/) [Mark Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-fisher/) ## More by Edward Gibbon > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-heart-to-resolve-a-head-to-contrive-and-a-hand-to-execute/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[In\] the national and religious conflict of the \[Byzantine and Saracen\] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-of-the-byzantine-and-saracen/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-progress-of-despotism-tends-to-disappoint-its-own-purpose/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/from-the-paths-of-blood-and-such-is-the-history-of-nations-i-cannot/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Explore all 399 Edward Gibbon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More Augustus quotes > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [That pipe, just so happens to lead to the room where I make the most delicious flavored chocolate covered fudge." Then he will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/that-pipe-just-so-happens-to-lead-to-the-room-where-i-make-the-most/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Christianity has carried civilization along with it, whithersoever it has gone; and, as if to show that the latter does not depend on physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/christianity-has-carried-civilization-along-with-it-whithersoever-it/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [I am in the midst of a soliloquy! I wrote this out and memorized it and if you interrupt me I will completely screw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-am-in-the-midst-of-a-soliloquy-i-wrote-this-out-and-memorized-it/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Ma'am," Augustus said, nodding toward her, "Your daughter's car has just been deservingly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/a-man-who-wouldn-t-cheat-for-a-poke-don-t-want-one-bad-enough/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“As quick as boiled asparagus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-quick-as-boiled-asparagus/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [WHEN AUGUSTUS CAME OUT on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake—not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/when-augustus-came-out-on-the-porch-the-blue-pigs-were-eating-a/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [“Six times during my life has this tomb of my soul led me to the brink of that eternal darkness into which all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/six-times-during-my-life-has-this-tomb-of-my-soul-led-me-to-the-brink/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [According to the conventions of the genre, Augustus Waters kept his sense of humor till the end, did not for a moment waiver in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/according-to-the-conventions-of-the-genre-augustus-waters-kept-his/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“His excitement was adorable. I couldn't resist. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. -Hazel Grace Lancaster, The Fault In Our Stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/his-excitement-was-adorable-i-couldn-t-resist-i-leaned-over-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Out of nowhere, Augustus asked, "do you believe in an after life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/out-of-nowhere-augustus-asked-do-you-believe-in-an-after-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ He \[Caesar Augustus\] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. \[Lat., Urbem lateritiam accepit, mamoream relinquit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suetonius/he-caesar-augustus-found-a-city-built-of-brick-he-left-it-built-of/) [Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suetonius/) > [“Augustus was amazing, but he’d overdone everything at the picnic, right down to the sandwiches that were metaphorically resonant but tasted terrible and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-was-amazing-but-he-d-overdone-everything-at-the-picnic-right/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Browse all 137 Augustus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gibbon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Augustus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/edward-gibbon-710_augustus_it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinqui_1459876.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to…” — Edward Gibbon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Gibbon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“it was reserved for Augustus to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```