Edward Gibbon citáty

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„Jeho panovanie sa vyznačuje zriedkavou prednosťou, že poskytlo veľmi málo materiálov pre dejiny, ktoré v skutočnosti nie sú nič viac ako zoznam zločinov, hlúpostí a nešťastí ľudstva.“

„Len silný jedinec sa nehanbí za svoje slabosti.“

„Korupcia, najneomylnejší symptóm ústavnej slobody.“

„Ľud považoval rôzne spôsoby uctievania bohov, ktoré prevládali v rímskom svete, za rovnako správne, filozof za rovnako nesprávne a štátne úrady za rovnako užitočné.“

„Najdôležitejšou časťou vzdelania každého človeka je tá, ktorú si dal sám.“

„Nikdy sa nedopúšťam tej chyby, aby som sa hádal s ľuďmi, ktorých mienku si vôbec nevážim.“

„Všetko, čo je ľudské, musí zaostávať, ak nepostupuje vpred.“

„Vietor a vlny sú vždy na strane najschopnejších navigátorov.“

“It was here [at the age of seventeen] that I suspended my religious inquiries.”

“Antoninus diffused order and tranquility over the greatest part of the earth. His reign is marked by the rare advantage of furnishing very few materials for history; which is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.”

“Crowds without company, and dissipation without pleasure.”

“I was never less alone than when by myself.”

“A long period of distress and anarchy, in which empire, and arts, and riches, had migrated from the banks of the Tiber, was incapable of restoring or adorning the city; and, as all that is human must retrograde if it do not advance, every successive age must have hastened the ruin of the works of antiquity.”

“In every deed of mischief he had a heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.”

“I saw and loved.”

“Our habits of thinking so fondly connect the order of the universe with the fate of man, that this gloomy period of history has been decorated with inundations, earthquakes, uncommon meteors, preternatural darkness, and a crowd of prodigies fictitious or exaggerated.”

“It is difficult to paint the light, the various, the inconstant character of Gallienus, which he displayed without constraint, as soon as he became sole possessor of the empire. There were, however, a few short moments in the life of Gallienus, when, exasperated by some recent injury, he suddenly appeared the intrepid soldier and the cruel tyrant; till, satiated with blood, or fatigued by resistance, he insensibly sunk into the natural mildness and indolence of his character.In every art that he attempted, his lively genius enabled him to succeed; and as his genius was destitute of judgment, he attempted every art, except the important ones of war and government. He was a master of several curious, but useless sciences, a ready orator, an elegant poet, a skilful gardener, an excellent cook, and most contemptible prince... There were, however, a few short moments in the life of Gallienus, when, exasperated by some recent injury, he suddenly appeared the intrepid soldier and the cruel tyrant; till, satiated with blood, or fatigued by resistance, he insensibly sunk into the natural mildness and indolence of his character.”

“When Gallienus received the intelligence that his capital was delivered from the barbarians, he was much less delighted than alarmed with the courage of the senate, since it might one day prompt them to rescue the public from domestic tyranny as well as from foreign invasion. His timid ingratitude was published to his subjects, in an edict which prohibited the senators from exercising any military employment, and even from approaching the camps of the legions. But his fears were groundless. The rich and luxurious nobles, sinking into their natural character, accepted, as a favor, this disgraceful exemption from military service; and as long as they were indulged in the enjoyment of their baths, their theatres, and their villas, they cheerfully resigned the more dangerous cares of empire to the rough hands of peasants and soldiers.”

“All gates are shut against the unfortunate.”

“Benevolence is the foundation of Justice, since we are forbidden to injure those we are bound to assist. A prophet may reveal the secrets of Heaven and futurity, but in his moral precepts he can only repeat the lessons of our own hearts.”