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Tacitus Quotes

b. 117

Publius Tacitus (or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus; c. 56–after 117 AD), Roman orator, lawyer, and senator. He is considered one of antiquity's greatest historians.

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Random Tacitus quote

103 quotes

In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.

Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by indolence.

Rumor does not always err; it sometimes even elects a man.

An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life.

Posterity gives to every man his true honor.

No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted.

He upbraided Macro, in no obscure and indirect terms, "with forsaking the setting sun and turning to the rising".

Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.

All this is unauthenticated, and I shall leave it open.

Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.

Such being the happiness of the times, that you may think as you wish, and speak as you think.

The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair through fear alone.

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

In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.

Power is more safely retained by cautious than by severe councils.

The love of fame is the last weakness which even the wise resign.

None grieve so ostentatiously as those who rejoice most in heart.

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

Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions.

Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Tacitus (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.