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
men quiet virtue
In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.
saws manners glances
Tacitus has written an entire work on the manners of the Germans. This work is short, but it comes from the pen of Tacitus, who was always concise, because he saw everything at a glance.
today precedent hereafter
What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.
names cassius brutus
The images of twenty of the most illustrious families the Manlii, the Quinctii, and other names of equal splendour were carried before it [the bier of Junia]. Those of Brutus and Cassius were not displayed; but for that very reason they shone with pre-eminent lustre.
men escaping battle
To abandon your shield is the basest of crimes; nor may a man thus disgraced be present at the sacred rites, or enter their council; many, indeed, after escaping from battle, have ended their infamy with the halter.
thinking hatred benefits
Benefits are acceptable, while the receiver thinks he may return them; but once exceeding that, hatred is given instead of thanks. [Lat., Beneficia usque eo laeta sunt dum videntur exsolvi posse; ubi multum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur.]
hurt calumny-is giving
Neglected, calumny soon expires, show that you are hurt, and you give it the appearance of truth.
men giving honor
Posterity gives to every man his true honor. [Lat., Suum cuique decus posteritas rependet.]
fall law ends
Our magistrates discharge their duties best at the beginning; and fall off toward the end. [Lat., Initia magistratuum nostrorum meliora, ferme finis inclinat.]
men expression office
This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them, and that men should feel a dread of being considered infamous in the opinions of posterity, from their depraved expressions and base actions.
hate disposition humans
It is the nature of the human disposition to hate him whom you have injured.
grief heart grieving
None grieve so ostentatiously as those who rejoice most in heart. [Lat., Nulla jactantius moerent quam qui maxime laetantur.]
enemy kind flattery
Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies. [Lat., Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes.]
people flattery depends
People flatter us because they can depend upon our credulity.