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
stronger sides
The gods are on the side of the stronger.
men excellence moral
In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.
science grace concerned
The sciences throw an inexpressible grace over our compositions, even where they are not immediately concerned; as their effects are discernible where we least expect to find them.
law liberty states
When the State is corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.
thinking opinion judged
Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
law cycles all-things
In all things there is a law of cycles.
pain valor contempt
Valor is the contempt of death and pain.
struggle adversity affluence
Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.
rome empires great-empires
Great empires are not maintained by timidity.
hate power next
Rulers always hate and suspect the next in succession. [Lat., Suspectum semper invisumque dominantibus qui proximus destinaretur.]
may resentment shows
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
liberty
Corruptisima republica plurimae leges.
peace desert making-peace
They make a desert and call it peace.
peace war rome
A bad peace is even worse than war.