Edward Gibbon (27 April 1737 – 16 January 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. His most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788. The Decline and Fall is known for the quality and irony of its prose, its use of primary sources, and its open criticism of organised religion.
Read more about Edward Gibbon: Early Life: 1737–1752, Oxford, Lausanne, and A Religious Journey: 1752–1758, Thwarted Romance, First Fame and The Grand Tour: 1758–1765, The History of The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire: 1776–1788, Later Years: 1789–1794, Legacy
Famous quotes containing the words edward and/or gibbon:
“... the moment we try to fix our attention upon consciousness and to see what, distinctly, it is, it seems to vanish: it seems as if we had before us a mere emptiness. When we try to introspect the sensation of blue, all we can see is the blue; the other element is as if it were diaphanous. Yet it can be distinguished if we look attentively enough, and know that there is something to look for.”
—George Edward Moore (1873–1958)
“The author himself is the best judge of his own performance; none has so deeply meditated on the subject; none is so sincerely interested in the event.”
—Edward Gibbon (1737–1794)