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
rome cities shameless
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
attitude hatred jew
[The Jews have] an attitude of hostility and hatred towards all others.
punishment suffering example
Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.
lines killing difficult
Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.
flames lust dominion
The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.
sin
One who is allowed to sin, sins less
character age noble
Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.
habit expediency customs
Custom adapts itself to expediency.
office evil deeds
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.
harm proof valour
Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.
bears pleasure difficult
It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
believe men good-man
You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure. -Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter
animal liberty mute
Liberty is given by nature even to mute animals.
fashion laughing vices
No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted.