Tacitus Quotes

The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.

Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.

Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure

The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion.

If you would know who controls you see who you may not criticise.

In valor there is hope.

When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.

Traitors are hated even by those whom they prefer.

The most seditious is the most cowardly.

It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.

The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.

An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]

So as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.

A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

The worst crimes were dared by a few, willed by more and tolerated by all.

To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.

Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges.

Reason and calm judgment, the qualities specially belonging to a leader.

Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.

An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.

Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was afterwards boldest in words and tongue.

Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

Custom adapts itself to expediency.

Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.

One who is allowed to sin, sins less

Power won by crime no one ever yet turned to a good purpose.

Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.

This I regard as history's highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity as a terror to evil words and deeds.

[The Jews have] an attitude of hostility and hatred towards all others.

In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.

A woman once fallen will shrink from no impropriety.

They make a desert and call it peace.

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

It is a part of the nature of man to resist compulsion.

To rob, to ravage, to murder, in their imposing language, are the arts of civil policy. When they have made the world a solitude, they call it peace.

Great empires are not maintained by timidity.

The word liberty has been falsely used by persons who, being degenerately profligate in private life, and mischievous in public, had no hope left but in fomenting discord.

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.

It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

It is common, to esteem most what is most unknown.

None make a greater show of sorrow than those who are most delighted.

Christianity is a pestilent superstition.

The grove is the centre of their whole religion. It is regarded as the cradle of the race and the dwelling-place of the supreme god to whom all things are subject and obedient.

It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.

Crime, once exposed, has no refuge but in audacity.

Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth.

Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.

We extol ancient things, regardless of our own times. [Lat., Vetera extollimus recentium incuriosi.]