Edward Gibbon

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

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

We improve ourselves by victories over ourself. There must be contests, and you must win.

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

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