Quotes by Edward Gibbon

About Edward Gibbon:

Edward Gibbon is known for the quality and irony of its prose, its use of primary sources, and its open criticism of organised religion.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity.

Edward Gibbon

Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty.

Edward Gibbon

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

Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

Style is the image of character.

Edward Gibbon

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

Edward Gibbon

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

Where error is irreparable, repentance is useless.

Edward Gibbon

My early and invincible love of reading--I would not exchange for the treasures of India.

Edward Gibbon

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

Author Bio

  • NameEdward Gibbon
  • DescriptionEnglish historian and Member of Parliament
  • BornMay 8, 1737
  • DiedJanuary 16, 1794
  • CountryUnited Kingdom; England
  • ProfessionHistorian; Writer
  • Works; ; ; ;