Tacitus quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Tacitus

Tacitus Famous Quotes & Sayings

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

There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive.

For it is the rare fortune of these days that a man may think what he likes and say what he thinks.

If we must fall, we should boldly meet our fate.

Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.

Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.

Whatever is unknown is magnified.

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

A cowardly populace which will dare nothing beyond talk.
[Lat., Vulgus ignavum et nihil ultra verba ausurum.]

In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.

The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.

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

There are odious virtues; such as inflexible severity, and an integrity that accepts of no favor.

The wicked find it easier to coalesce for seditious purposes than for concord in peace.

We are corrupted by good fortune.
[Lat., Felicitate corrumpimur.]

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

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

Crime succeeds by sudden despatch; honest counsels gain vigor by delay.

Bodies are slow of growth, but are rapid in their dissolution.
[Lat., Corpora lente augescent, cito extinguuntur.]

He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again.

Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader.
[Lat., Ratio et consilium, propriae ducis artes.]

A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.

The worst hatred is that of relatives.

It is a principle of nature to hate those whom you have injured.

When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.

None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it [a death].

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

He realized that monarchy was essential to peace, and that the price of freedom was violence and disorder.

It was rather a cessation of war than a beginning of peace.
[Lat., Bellum magis desierat, quam pax coeperat.]

Deos fortioribus adesse. The gods support those who are stronger.

The love of fame is a love that even the wisest of men are reluctant to forgo.

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

They terrify lest they should fear.

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

Custom adapts itself to expediency.

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

A bad peace is worse than war.

One who is allowed to sin, sins less

Christianity is a pestilent superstition.

Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety reforms the rich.

The most seditious is the most cowardly.

No hatred is so bitter as that of near relations.

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

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

In all things there is a law of cycles.

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

Modest fame is not to be despised by the highest characters.
[Lat., Modestiae fama neque summis mortalibus spernenda est.]

The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.

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

Remedies are slower in their operation than diseases.

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

In all things there is a kind of law of cycles.
[Lat., Rebus cunctis inest quidam velut orbis.]

All enterprises that are entered into with indiscreet zeal may be pursued with great vigor at first, but are sure to collapse in the end.

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

Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.

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

Laws were most numerous when the commonwealth was most corrupt

The gods are on the side of the stronger.

War will of itself discover and lay open the hidden and rankling wounds of the victorious party.

It is human to hate those whom we have injured.

Reckless adventure is the fool's hazard.

It is human nature to hate the one whom you have hurt.

It is of eloquence as of a flame; it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it; and it brightens as it burns.

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

For he would twist a word or a look into a crime and treasure it up in his memory.

Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.

Eloquence wins its great and enduring fame quite as much from the benches of our opponents as from those of our friends.

By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled.

When men of talents are punished, authority is strengthened.
[Lat., Punitis ingeniis, gliscit auctoritas.]

Everything unknown is magnified.
[Lat., Omne ignotum pro magnifico est.]

Then there is the usual scene when lovers are excited with each other, quarrels, entreaties, reproaches, and then fondling reconcilement.

An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.

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

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

When perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed.

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

Liberty is given by nature even to mute animals.

You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure. -Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter

A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp sting behind it.

Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.

To ravage, to slaughter, to steal, this they give the false name of empire; and where they create a desert, they call it peace.

Conspicuous by his absence.

The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off.

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

Posterity will pay everyone their due.

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

The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms, armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes

Good turns are pleasing only in so far as they seem repayable; much beyond that we repay with hatred, not gratitude.

Great empires are not maintained by timidity.

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

People flatter us because they can depend upon our credulity.

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

Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

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

When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.

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

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

It is always easier to requite an injury than a service: gratitude is a burden, but revenge is found to pay.