Edward Gibbon Quotes

I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.
Edward Gibbon

Respect, Opinions, Mistake

Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.
Edward Gibbon

School, Solitude, Genius

Our work is the presentation of our capabilities.
Edward Gibbon

Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty.
Edward Gibbon

Corruption, Liberty, Infallible

I understand by this passion the union of desire, friendship, and tenderness, which is inflamed by a single female, which prefers her to the rest of her sex, and which seeks her possession as the supreme or the sole happiness of our being.
Edward Gibbon

Friendship, Happiness, Sex

Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.
Edward Gibbon

Gratitude, Revenge, Expensive

Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity.
Edward Gibbon

Humanity, Feelings, Fanaticism

History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.
Edward Gibbon

History, Mankind, Indeed

I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes.
Edward Gibbon

Rich, Since, Wishes

A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.
Edward Gibbon

Heart, Hand, Head

But the power of instruction is seldom of much efficacy, except in those happy dispositions where it is almost superfluous.
Edward Gibbon

Power, Happy, Almost

The end comes when we no longer talk with ourselves. It is the end of genuine thinking and the beginning of the final loneliness.
Edward Gibbon

Loneliness, End, Thinking

Books are those faithful mirrors that reflect to our mind the minds of sages and heroes.
Edward Gibbon

Mind, Minds, Faithful

History is little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.
Edward Gibbon

History, Mankind, Crimes

Hope, the best comfort of our imperfect condition.
Edward Gibbon

Best, Hope, Comfort

Let us read with method, and propose to ourselves an end to which our studies may point. The use of reading is to aid us in thinking.
Edward Gibbon

End, Thinking, May

My early and invincible love of reading I would not exchange for all the riches of India.
Edward Gibbon

Love, Reading, Early

The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature.
Edward Gibbon

Nature, Courage, Human

The style of an author should be the image of his mind, but the choice and command of language is the fruit of exercise.
Edward Gibbon

Mind, Choice, Language

The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
Edward Gibbon

Side, Waves, Winds

All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance.
Edward Gibbon

Human, Advance, Retrograde

Beauty is an outward gift which is seldom despised, except by those to whom it has been refused.
Edward Gibbon

Beauty, Gift, Except

I was never less alone than when by myself.
Edward Gibbon

My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the decent obscurity of a learned language.
Edward Gibbon

Learned, Language, Left

Of the various forms of government which have prevailed in the world, an hereditary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for ridicule.
Edward Gibbon

Government, Present, Seems

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Biography

Nationality: English

Type: Historian

Born: April 27, 1737

Died: January 16, 1794

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Cite this Page: Citation

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