The splendid empire of Charles the Fifth was erected upon the grave of liberty.

Quote by John Lothrop Motley

Topics: John Lothrop Motley Quotes

History shows how feeble are barriers of paper.

History shows how feeble are barriers of paper.

The sword - the first, for a time the only force: the force of iron.

The sword - the first, for a time the only force: the force of iron.

With the Germans, the sovereignty resided in the great assembly of the people.

With the Germans, the sovereignty resided in the great assembly of the people.

The whole territory of the Netherlands was girt with forests.

The whole territory of the Netherlands was girt with forests.

Thus the liberties of Holland and Flanders waxed, daily, stronger.

Thus the liberties of Holland and Flanders waxed, daily, stronger.

A terrible animal, indeed, is an unbridled woman.

A terrible animal, indeed, is an unbridled woman.

Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries

Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries

Thus again the Netherlands, for the first time since the fall of Rome, were united...

Thus again the Netherlands, for the first time since the fall of Rome, were united...

The crusades made great improvement in the condition of the serfs.

The crusades made great improvement in the condition of the serfs.

Wealth brings strength, strength confidence.

Wealth brings strength, strength confidence.

Thus the whole country was broken into many shreds and patches of sovereignty.

Thus the whole country was broken into many shreds and patches of sovereignty.

Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries.

Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries.

A good lawyer is a bad Christian.

A good lawyer is a bad Christian.

The history of the Franks becomes, therefore, the history of the Netherlands.

The history of the Franks becomes, therefore, the history of the Netherlands.

When did one man ever civilize a people?

When did one man ever civilize a people?

The ferocious inroads of the Normans scared many weak and timid persons into servitude.

The ferocious inroads of the Normans scared many weak and timid persons into servitude.

The gigantic Gaul derided the Roman soldiers as a band of pigmies.

The gigantic Gaul derided the Roman soldiers as a band of pigmies.

A soil, exhausted by the long culture of Pagan empires, was to lie fallow for...

A soil, exhausted by the long culture of Pagan empires, was to lie fallow for...

A third force, developing itself more slowly, becomes even more potent than the rest: the...

A third force, developing itself more slowly, becomes even more potent than the rest: the...

In the tenth century the old Batavian and later Roman forms have faded away.

In the tenth century the old Batavian and later Roman forms have faded away.