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Quote#Politics & Power

The same timid policy, of dividing whatever is united, of reducing…

Quote byEdward Gibbon · 1737–1794

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (1776–1788), Chapter 17..

English (original)

The same timid policy, of dividing whatever is united, of reducing whatever is eminent, of dreading every active power, and of expecting that the most feeble will be the most obedient, seems to pervade the institutions of several princes, and particularly those of Constantine.

— Edward Gibbon

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