The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature.

The quote by Edward Gibbon — "The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature" — suggests that, while courage is often revered in soldiers, it is a quality that is more widespread and less extraordinary than it is often perceived. Gibbon, a historian best known for his work The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, appears to be pointing out that courage, especially in the context of battle, is an expected or even routine aspect of human nature. Rather than being something rare or exceptional, it is a quality that many people, especially in times of war or conflict, display.

By calling this type of courage the "cheapest" and "most common," Gibbon is perhaps commenting on the fact that in moments of extreme necessity — such as battle — human beings often show courage because it is required, rather than because it is a rare virtue. In times of war, people are often compelled by duty or fear to act bravely, and thus courage in this context might be seen as something that is not necessarily noble but rather a response to external pressures.

Gibbon's statement may also reflect his broader philosophical views on the nature of human beings and society. He was known for his skepticism about the idealization of certain virtues, especially those associated with war and empire-building. By downplaying the significance of soldiers’ courage, he could be suggesting that such qualities are not as lofty or heroic as they are often made out to be, but rather, they are part of a natural, albeit less glorified, aspect of human nature.

In essence, Gibbon’s quote challenges the traditional romanticization of soldierly courage, pointing out that it is often a necessary and common response in times of danger. It serves as a reminder that courage, while undeniably important, is not always as rare or noble as it is portrayed, and can sometimes be a mere product of circumstances or human nature.