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
law suffering politics
Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.
lost britain
Perdomita Britannia et statim omissa. Britain was conquered and immediately lost.
ignorance
Everything unknown is magnified. [Lat., Omne ignotum pro magnifico est.]
political
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges.
men work-out ruins
A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.
leader quality calm
Reason and calm judgment, the qualities specially belonging to a leader.
struggle adversity wealth
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
men envy be-good
When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
animal giving dumb
Nature gives liberty even to dumb animals.
law lawyer corruption
In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
leadership business quality
Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader..
race dwelling-place tree
The grove is the centre of their whole religion. It is regarded as the cradle of the race and the dwelling-place of the supreme god to whom all things are subject and obedient.
history reign emperor
No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
war crime worst
The worst crimes were dared by a few, willed by more and tolerated by all.