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August 3-7, 2009 - Gibbon and the Secret Poison which corrupted the Roman Empire (1776) |
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Edward Gibbon called the loss of
independence and excessive obedience the "secret poison" which
corrupted the Roman Empire (1776)
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Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) called
the loss of independence and excessive obedience to the Emperor
the "secret
poison" which
corrupted the Roman Empire:
It was scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover
in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption.
This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans,
introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the
empire...Their personal valour remained, but they no longer possessed that
public courage which is nourished by the love of independence, the sense
of national honour, the presence of danger, and the habit of command. They
received laws and governors from the will of their sovereign, and trusted
for their defence to a mercenary army. The posterity of their boldest leaders
was contented with the rank of citizens and subjects.
[Other books on History]
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The full paragraph from which this quotation was taken can be be viewed below (front page quote in bold):
It was scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries
should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption.
This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a
slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced
to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military
spirit evaporated. The natives of Europe were brave and robust. Spain, Gaul,
Britain, and Illyricum supplied the legions with excellent soldiers, and constituted
the real strength of the monarchy. Their personal valour
remained, but they no longer possessed that public courage which is nourished
by the love of independence, the sense of national honour, the presence of
danger, and the habit of command. They received laws and governors from the
will of their sovereign, and trusted for their defence to a mercenary army.
The posterity of their boldest leaders was contented with the rank of citizens
and subjects. The most aspiring spirits resorted to the court or standard of the emperors;
and the deserted provinces, deprived of political strength or union, insensibly
sunk into the languid indifference of private life.
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