A biography for Edward Gibbonhasn’t been written yet.
“I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.”
“Revenge is profitable, gratitude is expensive.”
“Beauty is an outward gift which is seldom despised, except by those to whom it has been refused.”
“Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity.”
“History is little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.”
“We improve ourselves by victories over ourselves. There must be contest, and we must win.”
“All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance.”
“Of the various forms of government which have prevailed in the world, an hereditary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for ridicule.”
“My early and invincible love of reading--I would not exchange for the treasures of India.”
“The principles of a free constitution are irrecoverably lost, when the legislative power is nominated by the executive.”
“I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes.”
“War, in its fairest form, implies a perpetual violation of humanity and justice.”
“The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature.”
“The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.”
“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.”
“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.”
“... but I must reluctantly observe that two causes, the abbreviation of time, and the failure of hope, will always tinge with a browner shade the evening of life.”
“Hope, the best comfort of our imperfect condition.”
“The laws of probability, so true in general, so fallacious in particular.”
“In every deed of mischief he had a heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.”