The voice of history is often little more than the organ of hatred or flattery.

Every person has two educations, one which he receives from others, and one, more important, which he gives to himself.

But this inestimable privilege was soon violated: with the knowledge of truth the emperor imbibed the maxims of persecution; and the sects which dissented from the catholic church were afflicted and oppressed by the triumph of Christianity. Constantine easily believed that the heretics, who presumed to dispute his opinions or to oppose his commands, were guilty of the most absurd and criminal obstinacy; and that a seasonable application of moderate severities might save those unhappy men from the danger of an everlasting condemnation.

The primitive Christians perpetually trod on mystic ground, and their minds were exercised by the habits of believing the most extraordinary events

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.

It was no longer esteemed infamous for a Roman to survive his honor and independence.

The inactivity of a conqueror betrays the loss of strength and blood . . .