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The peace of the Eastern church was invaded by a swarm of fanatics [monks], incapable of fear, or reason, or humanity and the Imperial troops acknowledged, without shame, that they were much less apprehensive of an encounter with the fiercest Barbarians.

Edward Gibbon

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Edward Gibbon
Age: 56 †
Born: 1737
Born: May 8
Died: 1794
Died: January 16
Classical Scholar
Historian
Politician
Writer
Gibbon
Peace
Eastern
Monks
Fear
Incapable
Invaded
Encounters
Imperial
Reason
Troops
Acknowledged
Without
Shame
Barbarians
Fiercest
Much
Humanity
Fanatics
Apprehensive
Church
Monk
Swarm
Less
Encounter
Swarms

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The monastic studies have tended, for the most part, to darken, rather than to dispel, the cloud of superstition.
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The most worthless of mankind are not afraid to condemn in others the same disorders which they allow in themselves and can readily discover some nice difference in age, character, or station, to justify the partial distinction.
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Ignorant of the arts of luxury, the primitive Romans had improved the science of government and war.
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But a wild democracy . . . too often disdains the essential principles of justice.
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The possession and the enjoyment of property are the pledges which bind a civilised people to an improved country.
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A bloody and complete victory has sometimes yielded no more than the possession of the field and the loss of ten thousand men has sometimes been sufficient to destroy, in a single day, the work of ages.
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I darted a contemptuous look at the stately models of superstition.
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The awful mysteries of the Christian faith and worship were concealed from the eyes of strangers, and even of catechumens, with an affected secrecy, which served to excite their wonder and curiosity.
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But the power of instruction is seldom of much efficacy, except in those happy dispositions where it is almost superfluous.
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[Courage] arises in a great measure from the consciousness of strength . . .
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Extreme distress, which unites the virtue of a free people, imbitters the factions of a declining monarchy.
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Such events may be disbelieved or disregarded but the charity of a bishop, Acacius of Amida, whose name might have dignified the saintly calendar, shall not be lost in oblivion.
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On the slightest touch the unsupported fabric of their pride and power fell to the ground. The expiring senate displayed a sudden lustre, blazed for a moment, and was extinguished for ever.
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In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.
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[The] penalty of death was abolished in the Roman empire, a law of mercy most delightful to the humane theorist, but of which the practice, in a large and vicious community, is seldom consistent with the public safety.
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Philosophy alone can boast (and perhaps it is no more than the boast of philosophy), that her gentle hand is able to eradicate from the human mind the latent and deadly principle of fanaticism.
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[The] discretion of the judge is the first engine of tyranny . . .
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It was among the ruins of the capitol that I first conceived the idea of a work which has amused and exercised nearly twenty years of my life.
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A reformer should be exempt from the suspicion of interest, and he must possess the confidence and esteem of those whom he proposes to reclaim.
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Europe is secure from any future irruptions of Barbarians since, before they can conquer, they must cease to be barbarous.
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