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
fear men feelings
Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.
family hatred society
The hatred of relatives is the most violent.
doubt facts obscurity
So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most precarious hearsays, others turn facts into falsehood; and both are exaggerated by posterity.
passion justice lust
Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions
army pay arms
The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms, armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes
gratitude thinking long
Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are repaid with hatred instead of gratitude.
beautiful style body
Style, like the human body, is specially beautiful when the veins are not prominent and the bones cannot be counted.
marvellous
The unknown always passes for the marvellous.
support stronger
Deos fortioribus adesse. The gods support those who are stronger.
peace wilderness
Solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant. They make a wilderness and they call it peace.
liberty used no-hope
The word liberty has been falsely used by persons who, being degenerately profligate in private life, and mischievous in public, had no hope left but in fomenting discord.
adventure fool hazards
Reckless adventure is the fool's hazard.
men fame reluctant
The love of fame is a love that even the wisest of men are reluctant to forgo.
men rumor doe
Rumor does not always err; it sometimes even elects a man.