The Progress Of Despotism Tends To Disappoint

Such, Indeed, Is The Policy Of Civil War: Severely To Remember Injuries, And To Forget The Most Important Services. Revenge Is Profitable, Gratitude Is Expensive.

The Emperor Of The East Was No Longer Guided By The Wisdom And Authority Of His Elder Brother, Whose Death Happened Towards The End Of The Preceding Year: And, As The Distressful Situation Of The Goths Required An Instant And Peremptory Decision, He Was Deprived Of The Favourite Resource Of Feeble And Timid Minds; Who Consider The Use Of Dilatory And Ambiguous Measures As The Most Admirable Efforts Of Consummate Prudence.

That Country [carthage] Was Rapidly Sinking Into The State Of Barbarism From Whence It Had Been Raised By The Phoenician Colonies And Roman Laws; And Every Step Of Intestine Discord Was Marked By Some Deplorable Victory Of Savage Man Over Civilized Society.

But The Power Of Instruction Is Seldom Of Much Efficacy, Except In Those Happy Dispositions Where It Is Almost Superfluous.

In Discussing Barbarism And Christianity I Have Actually Been Discussing The Fall Of Rome.