I understand by this passion the union of desire, friendship, and tenderness, which is inflamed by a single female, which prefers her to the rest of her sex, and which seeks her possession as the supreme or the sole happiness of our being. – Edward Gibbon
History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. – Edward Gibbon
Their poverty secured their freedom, since our desires and our possessions are the strongest fetters of despotism. – Edward Gibbon
But the power of instruction is seldom of much efficacy, except in those happy dispositions where it is almost superfluous. – Edward Gibbon
No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground. – Madeleine Albright