Jacob Dickinson
@jjldickinson.bsky.social
I’m posting some evocative quotes from Edward Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” Pagination is from the 1946 Heritage Press edition (the prettiest affordable one, IMO).
Thanks to users on my “Storytellers” list.
Thanks to users on my “Storytellers” list.
Apologies for not posting this earlier, when it might have been an aid to those struggling with Valentine’s Day prose. Here’s one of Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”footnotes, shredding the prose of “Jerom” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome) AGAIN:
Jerome - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Apologies for not posting this earlier, when it might have been an aid to those struggling with Valentine’s Day prose. Here’s one of Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”footnotes, shredding the prose of “Jerom” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome) AGAIN:
Looking for a simple way to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln AND Charles Darwin! Ideas?
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Looking for a simple way to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln AND Charles Darwin! Ideas?
The stories of Paul, Hilarion, and Malchus, by St. Jerom are admirably told; and the only defect of these pleasing compositions is the want of truth and common sense.
(1149 note 10) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Gibbon is beating up on his sources again; but who does it better?
(1149 note 10) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Gibbon is beating up on his sources again; but who does it better?
February 11, 2026 at 6:27 PM
The stories of Paul, Hilarion, and Malchus, by St. Jerom are admirably told; and the only defect of these pleasing compositions is the want of truth and common sense.
(1149 note 10) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Gibbon is beating up on his sources again; but who does it better?
(1149 note 10) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Gibbon is beating up on his sources again; but who does it better?
The loose and imperfect practice of religion satisfied the conscience of the multitude. The prince or magistrate, the soldier or merchant, reconciled their fervent zeal, and implicit faith, with the exercise of their profession, the pursuit of their interest, and the indulgence of their passions;
February 11, 2026 at 1:54 AM
The loose and imperfect practice of religion satisfied the conscience of the multitude. The prince or magistrate, the soldier or merchant, reconciled their fervent zeal, and implicit faith, with the exercise of their profession, the pursuit of their interest, and the indulgence of their passions;
The soldiers, who united the rage of factious citizens with the savage manners of Barbarians, were indulged, without control, in the licence of rapine and murder; the crowd of slaves and plebeians, who were unconcerned in the event, could only gain by the indiscriminate pillage;
February 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM
The soldiers, who united the rage of factious citizens with the savage manners of Barbarians, were indulged, without control, in the licence of rapine and murder; the crowd of slaves and plebeians, who were unconcerned in the event, could only gain by the indiscriminate pillage;
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
February 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
Yes, Mister Bunny’s performance was obviously political. But I think everything short of gargling a meth addicted klansman’s truck nuts comes across as an implicit denunciation of the president nowadays.
February 9, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Yes, Mister Bunny’s performance was obviously political. But I think everything short of gargling a meth addicted klansman’s truck nuts comes across as an implicit denunciation of the president nowadays.
Do I understand this correctly? Trump’s worried about young children being exposed to disgusting things?
The jokes write themselves. And write, and write, and keep on writing.
The jokes write themselves. And write, and write, and keep on writing.
February 9, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Do I understand this correctly? Trump’s worried about young children being exposed to disgusting things?
The jokes write themselves. And write, and write, and keep on writing.
The jokes write themselves. And write, and write, and keep on writing.
We are ignorant of his motives; but in this obscure period our ignorance extends to the most public and important facts.
(1138 note 73) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1138 note 73) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
February 8, 2026 at 7:05 PM
We are ignorant of his motives; but in this obscure period our ignorance extends to the most public and important facts.
(1138 note 73) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1138 note 73) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Somewhere Gandhi is laughing.
The dildo distribution delegation is outside the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis.
February 7, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Somewhere Gandhi is laughing.
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home.
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 2, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home.
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
It's obvious but still striking to consider that we have a United States government driven solely by one man's emotional dysregulation and dysfunction.
February 6, 2026 at 9:51 PM
It's obvious but still striking to consider that we have a United States government driven solely by one man's emotional dysregulation and dysfunction.
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
Let’s show that Americans love their libraries! Like, follow, and share!
February 6, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Let’s show that Americans love their libraries! Like, follow, and share!
The husband of Placidia, who, like most of his ancestors, had been invested with the consular dignity, might have continued to enjoy a secure and splendid fortune in the peaceful residence of Constantinople;
February 5, 2026 at 7:59 PM
The husband of Placidia, who, like most of his ancestors, had been invested with the consular dignity, might have continued to enjoy a secure and splendid fortune in the peaceful residence of Constantinople;
The clemency of the emperor was extorted from his weakness; and Ricimer suspended his ambitious designs, till he had secretly prepared the engines with which he resolved to subvert the throne of Anthemius.
(1137) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1137) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
February 5, 2026 at 7:51 PM
The clemency of the emperor was extorted from his weakness; and Ricimer suspended his ambitious designs, till he had secretly prepared the engines with which he resolved to subvert the throne of Anthemius.
(1137) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1137) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
From the perils which he had escaped, Arvandus imbibed confidence rather than wisdom; and such was the various, though uniform, imprudence of his behaviour that his prosperity must appear much more surprising than his downfall.
(1134) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1134) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
February 5, 2026 at 7:45 PM
From the perils which he had escaped, Arvandus imbibed confidence rather than wisdom; and such was the various, though uniform, imprudence of his behaviour that his prosperity must appear much more surprising than his downfall.
(1134) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1134) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Experience has shewn that the success of an invader depends on the vigor and celerity of his operations. The strength and sharpness of the first impression are blunted by delay; the health and spirit of the troops insensibly languish in a distant climate; the naval and military force,
February 5, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Experience has shewn that the success of an invader depends on the vigor and celerity of his operations. The strength and sharpness of the first impression are blunted by delay; the health and spirit of the troops insensibly languish in a distant climate; the naval and military force,
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
Heads are going to explode 💥
Cato Institute just nuked the lie. Immigrants have cut U.S. deficits by $14.5 TRILLION since 1994, slashing the national debt by a third.
All that “immigrants are bleeding us dry” noise? Absolute bullshit.
1/3
Cato Institute just nuked the lie. Immigrants have cut U.S. deficits by $14.5 TRILLION since 1994, slashing the national debt by a third.
All that “immigrants are bleeding us dry” noise? Absolute bullshit.
1/3
February 4, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Heads are going to explode 💥
Cato Institute just nuked the lie. Immigrants have cut U.S. deficits by $14.5 TRILLION since 1994, slashing the national debt by a third.
All that “immigrants are bleeding us dry” noise? Absolute bullshit.
1/3
Cato Institute just nuked the lie. Immigrants have cut U.S. deficits by $14.5 TRILLION since 1994, slashing the national debt by a third.
All that “immigrants are bleeding us dry” noise? Absolute bullshit.
1/3
Reposted by Jacob Dickinson
For those keeping score at home:
February 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM
For those keeping score at home:
The decay of the city had gradually impaired the value of the public works. The circus and theatres might still excite, but they seldom gratified, the desires of the people; the temples, which had escaped the zeal of the Christians, were no longer inhabited either by gods or men;
February 4, 2026 at 6:46 AM
The decay of the city had gradually impaired the value of the public works. The circus and theatres might still excite, but they seldom gratified, the desires of the people; the temples, which had escaped the zeal of the Christians, were no longer inhabited either by gods or men;
The spectator, who casts a mournful view over the ruins of ancient Rome, is tempted to accuse the memory of the Goths and Vandals, for the mischief which they had neither leisure, nor power, nor perhaps inclination, to perpetrate.
February 4, 2026 at 6:10 AM
The spectator, who casts a mournful view over the ruins of ancient Rome, is tempted to accuse the memory of the Goths and Vandals, for the mischief which they had neither leisure, nor power, nor perhaps inclination, to perpetrate.
…[W]hen he looked back with unavailing regret on the secure pleasures of his former life, the emperor exclaimed, “O fortunate Damocles, thy reign began and ended with the same dinner”….
(1107) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1107) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
February 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
…[W]hen he looked back with unavailing regret on the secure pleasures of his former life, the emperor exclaimed, “O fortunate Damocles, thy reign began and ended with the same dinner”….
(1107) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1107) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
If all the Barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West; and, if Rome still survived, she survived the loss of freedom, of virtue, and of honour.
(1103) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1103) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
February 3, 2026 at 5:27 PM
If all the Barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West; and, if Rome still survived, she survived the loss of freedom, of virtue, and of honour.
(1103) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
(1103) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
It was reported at Constantinople that on the fortunate night in which he expired Marcian beheld in a dream the bow of Attila broken asunder;
February 3, 2026 at 9:17 AM
It was reported at Constantinople that on the fortunate night in which he expired Marcian beheld in a dream the bow of Attila broken asunder;
The kings and nations, who might have deserted his standard in the hour of distress, were made sensible that the displeasure of their monarch was the most imminent and inevitable danger.
(1092) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Was ketchup involved?
(1092) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Was ketchup involved?
February 3, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The kings and nations, who might have deserted his standard in the hour of distress, were made sensible that the displeasure of their monarch was the most imminent and inevitable danger.
(1092) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Was ketchup involved?
(1092) #edwardgibbon #declineandfall
Was ketchup involved?