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
bear last learned love men
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
men fame indolence
Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by indolence.
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.
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.
men giving honor
Posterity gives to every man his true honor. [Lat., Suum cuique decus posteritas rependet.]
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.
wise men lust
The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off.
men history giving
Posterity gives every man his true value.
fear men feelings
Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.
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.
men compulsion nature-of-man
It is a part of the nature of man to resist compulsion.
men talent authority
By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.
hate men mind
It is a characteristic of the human mind to hate the man one has injured.