John Lothrop Motley

American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

John Lothrop Motleywas an American author and diplomat. As a popular historian, he is best known for his works on the Netherlands, the three volume work The Rise of the Dutch Republic and four volume History of the United Netherlands.

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About the John Lothrop Motley

John Lothrop Motleywas an American author and diplomat. As a popular historian, he is best known for his works on the Netherlands, the three volume work The Rise of the Dutch Republic and four volume History of the United Netherlands. As United States Minister to Austria in the service of the Abraham Lincoln administration, Motley helped to prevent European intervention on the side of the Confederates in the American Civil War. He later served as Minister to the United Kingdomduring the Ulysses S. Grant administration.

25 Quotes by John Lothrop Motley

  1. 1.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  2. 2.

    For a century longer, Rome still retains its outward form, but the swarming nations are now in full career.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  3. 3.

    The rise of the Dutch Republic must ever be regarded as one of the leading events of modern times.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  4. 4.

    Thus again the Netherlands, for the first time since the fall of Rome, were united under one crown imperial. They had already been once united, in their slavery to Rome.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  5. 5.

    When did one man ever civilize a people?

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  6. 6.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  7. 7.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  8. 8.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  9. 9.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  10. 10.

    A new civilization was not to be improvised by a single mind.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  11. 11.

    In Gaul were two orders, the nobility and the priesthood, while the people, says Caesar, were all slaves.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  12. 12.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  13. 13.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  14. 14.

    The whole territory of the Netherlands was girt with forests.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  15. 15.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  16. 16.

    Wealth brings strength, strength confidence.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  17. 17.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  18. 18.

    A terrible animal, indeed, is an unbridled woman.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  19. 19.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  20. 20.

    Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  21. 21.

    History shows how feeble are barriers of paper.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  22. 22.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  23. 23.

    A good lawyer is a bad Christian.

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  24. 24.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)

  25. 25.

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

    John Lothrop Motley

    American historian and diplomat (1814-1877)