Edward Gibbon

Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity.

The laws of probability, so true in general, so fallacious in particular.

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

The pathetic almost always consists in the detail of little events.

It has always been my practice to cast a long paragraph in a single mould, to try it by my ear, to deposit it in my memory, but to suspend the action of the pen till I had given the last polish to my work.

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

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

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

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

The author himself is the best judge of his own performance; none has so deeply meditated on the subject; none is so sincerely interested in the event.

Hope, the best comfort of our imperfect condition.

Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty.

Style is the image of character.

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

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

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

Their poverty secured their freedom, since our desires and our possessions are the strongest fetters of despotism.

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

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.

We improve ourselves by victories over ourselves. There must be contest, and we must win.

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

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

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

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

I was never less alone than when by myself.