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
business firsts inconsiderate
All inconsiderate enterprises are impetuous at first, but soon lanquish. [Lat., Omnia inconsulti impetus coepta, initiis valida, spatio languescunt.]
cassius brutus portraits
Cassius and Brutus were the more distinguished for that very circumstance that their portraits were absent. [Lat., Praefulgebant Cassius atque Brutus eo ipso, quod effigies eorum non videbantur.]
absence
Conspicuous by his absence.
reform rich poor
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety reforms the rich.
power guilt purpose
Power acquired by guilt was never used for a good purpose. [Lat., Imperium flagitio acquisitum nemo unquam bonis artibus exercuit.]
power council cautious
Power is more safely retained by cautious than by severe councils. [Lat., Potentiam cautis quam acribus consiliis tutius haberi.]
fallen shrinks
A woman once fallen will shrink from no impropriety.
peace war
It was rather a cessation of war than a beginning of peace. [Lat., Bellum magis desierat, quam pax coeperat.]
integrity favors virtue
There are odious virtues; such as inflexible severity, and an integrity that accepts of no favor.
adversity judgment
Adversity deprives us of our judgment.
men punishment talent
When men of talents are punished, authority is strengthened. [Lat., Punitis ingeniis, gliscit auctoritas.]
leader quality ratios
Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader. [Lat., Ratio et consilium, propriae ducis artes.]
force accomplish prudence
We accomplish more by prudence than by force. [Lat., Plura consilio quam vi perficimus.]
age example virtue
Yet the age was not so utterly destitute of virtues but that it produced some good examples. [Lat., Non tamen adeo virtutum sterile seculum, ut non et bona exempla prodiderit.]