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
rumor always-wrong
Rumor is not always wrong
flames matter eloquence
It is of eloquence as of a flame; it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it; and it brightens as it burns.
tongue hours danger
Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was afterwards boldest in words and tongue.
struggle politics middle
In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.
political ruling consent
By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled.
exclusion moral ancient
All ancient history was written with a moral object; the ethical interest predominates almost to the exclusion of all others.
solitude
They make solitude, which they call peace.
barbarians firsts england
Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives or immigrants, remains obscure; one must remember we are dealing with barbarians.
should
They terrify lest they should fear.
zealous ends commencement
Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end.
traitor hated
Traitors are hated even by those whom they prefer.
race enemy flatterer
The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.
passion dominion
The love of dominion is the most engrossing passion.
purpose crime
Power won by crime no one ever yet turned to a good purpose.