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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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103 quotes
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
In all things there is a kind of law of cycles.
The hatred of relatives is the most violent.
Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies.
For I deem it to be the chief function of history to rescue merit from oblivion, and to hold up before evil words and evil deeds the terror of the reprobation of posterity.
Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was afterwards boldest in words and tongue.
Thou wast indeed fortunate, Agricola, not only in the splendour of thy life, but in the opportune moment of thy death.
As he, though carried off in the prime of life, had lived long enough for glory.
We extol ancient things, regardless of our own times.
If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.
To every man posterity gives his due honour.
The principal office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.
So, as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.
The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.
Bills were passed, not only for national objects but for individual cases, and laws were most numerous when the commonwealth was most corrupt.
He had talents equal to business, and aspired no higher.
He shone with the greater splendor, because he was not seen.
There will be vices as long as there are men.
The changeful chance of circumstances.
However the marriage is there severe.
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