Tacitus
Tacitus
PubliusCornelius Tacituswas a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors. These two works span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in AD 14 to the years of the First Jewish–Roman War in AD 70. There are substantial lacunae in the surviving texts,...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionHistorian
absence absent-mindedness greater
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
success ambition men
In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.
wise weakness lasts
The love of fame is the last weakness which even the wise resign.
blood guilt politics
Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.
winning agreement
Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.
running fighting battle
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.
political politics audacity
Crime, once exposed, has no refuge but in audacity.
courage determination work
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
vigor may firsts
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.
peace war empires
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
inspirational motivational beautiful
Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful.
inspirational reality blessing
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
modesty lost chastity
When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
fear perfect causes
Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth; when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.