--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The manly pride of the Romans, content…" description: "\"The manly pride of the Romans, content with substantial power, had left to the vanity of the East the forms and ceremonies of ostentatious greatness. B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_the-manly-pride-of-the-romans-content-wi_2879197.png" --- # The manly pride of the Romans, content with substantial… ![“The manly pride of the Romans, content with substantial power, had left to the vanity of the East the forms and ceremonies of ostentatious greatness. But when they lost even the semblance of those virtues which were derived from their ancient freedom, the simplicity of Roman manners was insensibly…” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_the-manly-pride-of-the-romans-content-wi_2879197.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_the-manly-pride-of-the-romans-content-wi_2879197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_the-manly-pride-of-the-romans-content-wi_2879197.png) > “The manly pride of the Romans, content with substantial power, had left to the vanity of the East the forms and ceremonies of ostentatious greatness. But when they lost even the semblance of those virtues which were derived from their ancient freedom, the simplicity of Roman manners was insensibly corrupted by the stately affectation of the courts of Asia.” [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. Roman virtues eroded as they adopted foreign extravagance, losing simplicity. **In simple terms:** Adopting foreign customs can corrupt original values. Key Takeaway Preserve core cultural values. Themes history culture identity Mood cautious thoughtful Type historical analytical When to use this quote - education curricula - public policy debates - civic education Key Concepts cultural assimilation political decay Questions to Reflect On - What modern societies risk losing identity? - How can traditions stay relevant? A Different Perspective Simplification may overlook internal reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-freedom-271942/) [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Ceremonies Ostentatious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremonies-ostentatious-3981138/) [Ceremony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Manly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manly/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Ostentatious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ostentatious/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Pride Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride-romans-3981136/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Roman Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-manners-3981135/) [Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romans/) [Romans Content](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romans-content-3981137/) [Semblance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/semblance/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [A people who still remembered that their ancestors had been the masters of the world would have applauded, with conscious pride, the representation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-people-who-still-remembered-that-their-ancestors-had-been-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [My own life in India, since I came to it in 1893 to make it my home, has been devoted to one purpose, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/my-own-life-in-india-since-i-came-to-it-in-1893-to-make-it-my-home/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [The extravagant and ostentatious lifestyles that pass for charisma in a time when almost anybody talks about charisma but if you think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-extravagant-and-ostentatious-lifestyles-that-pass-for-charisma-in/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [How different is the ready hand, tearful eye, and soothing voice, from the ostentatious appearance which is called pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/how-different-is-the-ready-hand-tearful-eye-and-soothing-voice-from/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [You have overburdened your argument with ostentatious erudition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/you-have-overburdened-your-argument-with-ostentatious-erudition/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a fig-leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-man-who-is-ostentatious-of-his-modesty-is-twin-to-the-statue-that/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I don't use big words to show off because it's ostentatious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/i-don-t-use-big-words-to-show-off-because-it-s-ostentatious/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [They've listed my name in the dictionary - 'Imeldific' is used to mean ostentatious extravagance... 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There isn't enough for both, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-miserable-consumption-of-the-poor-is-partly-the-result-of-the/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [For me to think in terms of employing security seems ostentatious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-me-to-think-in-terms-of-employing-security-seems-ostentatious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Moderation is an ostentatious proof of our strength of character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/moderation-is-an-ostentatious-proof-of-our-strength-of-character/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The afrit batted his eyelashes with a ostentatious lack of concern. "Indeed? Have you a name?" "A name?" I cried. 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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 Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. 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