--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This variety of objects will suspend, for…" description: "\"This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the course of the narrative; but the interruption will be censured only by those readers who are i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png" --- # This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the… ![“This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the course of the narrative; but the interruption will be censured only by those readers who are insensible to the importance of laws and manners, while they peruse, with eager curiosity, the transient intrigues of a court, or the accidental…” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png) > “This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the course of the narrative; but the interruption will be censured only by those readers who are insensible to the importance of laws and manners, while they peruse, with eager curiosity, the transient intrigues of a court, or the accidental event of a battle.” [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. Narrative interruptions are tolerated only by readers indifferent to law and manners, as they focus on fleeting court intrigues or battle events. **In simple terms:** Only those who ignore rules enjoy story pauses. Key Takeaway Value structure over sensationalism. Themes law order literary criticism attention span Mood critical analytical Type literary historical When to use this quote - academic study - literary analysis - creative writing Key Concepts historical narrative reader engagement Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about audience expectations? - How can writers balance intrigue with substance? A Different Perspective Readers may miss deeper themes when distracted by spectacle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Interruptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interruptions/) [Intrigue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrigue/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Julian was not insensible of the advantages of freedom. From his studies he had imbibed the spirit of ancient sages and heroes; his life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/julian-was-not-insensible-of-the-advantages-of-freedom-from-his/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [What goes on inside the school is an interruption of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/what-goes-on-inside-the-school-is-an-interruption-of-education/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [time spent in being interrupted is not time lost. ... How do we know but that the interruption we snarl at is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-robertson-brown-lindsay/time-spent-in-being-interrupted-is-not-time-lost-how-do-we-know-but/) [Anna Robertson Brown Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-robertson-brown-lindsay/) > [Evil is the interruption of a truth by the pressure of particular or individual interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-badiou/evil-is-the-interruption-of-a-truth-by-the-pressure-of-particular-or/) [Alain Badiou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-badiou/) > [“The interruption did nothing but earn her a similar slap, as I’m sure she knew it would. Sometimes I wondered if my mother spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-interruption-did-nothing-but-earn-her-a-similar-slap-as-i-m-sure/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I just love the idea that people disappear into the story for a while. You grab a book, and you want to get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-beckett/i-just-love-the-idea-that-people-disappear-into-the-story-for-a-while/) [Bernard Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-beckett/) > [“I feared nothing but interruption, and that came too soon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-feared-nothing-but-interruption-and-that-came-too-soon/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“I'm boasting of my...skills, and I would prefer to do it without interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-boasting-of-my-skills-and-i-would-prefer-to-do-it-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The interruption we now impatiently put off may be the most important thing we could be doing at this particular time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/the-interruption-we-now-impatiently-put-off-may-be-the-most-important/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [The shortest definition of religion: interruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-baptist-metz/the-shortest-definition-of-religion-interruption/) [Johann Baptist Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-baptist-metz/) > [Ideals do exist, the rest is just temporary interruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/ideals-do-exist-the-rest-is-just-temporary-interruption/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [“First, let me finish. Then interrupt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/first-let-me-finish-then-interrupt/) [Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/) > [If I know somebody is coming 'round, it is incredibly difficult for me to work because I'm waiting for this interruption - even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/if-i-know-somebody-is-coming-round-it-is-incredibly-difficult-for-me/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) ## 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 Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. 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He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. 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But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the course of the narrative; but the interruption will be censured only by those readers who are insensible to the importance of laws and manners, while they peruse, with eager curiosity, the transient intrigues of a court, or the accidental event of a battle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gibbon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for-some-time-the-course-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for-some-time-the-course-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/edward-gibbon-710_battle_this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for_659514.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This variety of objects will suspend, for some time, the course of the narrative; but the interruption will…” — 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": "This variety of objects will suspend,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for-some-time-the-course-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/this-variety-of-objects-will-suspend-for-some-time-the-course-of-the/#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 } } ] } ```