“ The obvious definition of a monarchy seems to be that of a state, in which a single person, by whatsoever name he may be distinguished, is entrusted with the execution of the laws, the management of t… Edward Gibbon
“ Most of the crimes which disturb the internal peace of society are produced by the restraints which the necessary, but unequal, laws of property have imposed on the appetites of mankind, by confining… Edward Gibbon
“ The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true by the philosopher as equally false and by the magistrate as equally useful. Edward Gibbon
“ Every person has two educations, one which he receives from others, and one, more important, which he gives to himself. 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… Edward Gibbon
“ As long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than their benefactors, the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters. Edward Gibbon
“ Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and the people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that th… Edward Gibbon
“ It was an inflexible maxim of Roman discipline that good soldier should dread his own officers far more than the enemy Edward Gibbon
“ I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect. Edward Gibbon
“ Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book. Edward Gibbon
“ History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. Edward Gibbon
“ My early and invincible love of reading--I would not exchange for the treasures of India. Edward Gibbon
“ Edward Gibbon, in his classic work on the fall of the Roman Empire, describes the Roman era's declension as a place where bizarreness masqueraded as creativity. Edward Gibbon
