Who said “My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a…”?

Disputed

It's credited to Edward Gibbon, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Edward Gibbon.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a learned language.”
— Edward Gibbon
DisputedNo reliable early source found for Edward Gibbon. · evidenceObscenity
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Cite this quote

APA

“My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a learned language.” [Quotation attributed to Edward Gibbon]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29259-my-english-text-is-chaste-and-all-licentious/

MLA

“My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a learned language.” Attributed to Edward Gibbon. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29259-my-english-text-is-chaste-and-all-licentious/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a learned language.” Attributed to Edward Gibbon. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29259-my-english-text-is-chaste-and-all-licentious/.

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More quotes by Edward Gibbon

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All 27 Edward Gibbon quotes →