Tacitus Quotes
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The desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise.
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By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.
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Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to be wished.
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The wicked find it easier to coalesce for seditious purposes than for concord in peace.
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A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp sting behind it.
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For I deem it to be the chief function of history to rescue merit from oblivion, and to hold up before evil words and evil deeds the terror of the reprobation of posterity.
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Nature gives liberty even to dumb animals.
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Augustus gradually increased his powers, taking over those of the senate, the executives and the laws. The aristocracy received wealth and position in proportion to their willingness to accept slavery. The state had been transformed, and the old Roman character gone for ever. Equality among citizens was completely abandoned. All now waited on the imperial command.
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In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.
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Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.
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Power acquired by guilt was never used for a good purpose.
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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.
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We are corrupted by good fortune.
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More faults are often committed while we are trying to oblige than while we are giving offense.
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In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.
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They terrify lest they should fear.
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He possessed a peculiar talent of producing effect in whatever he said or did.
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It is a part of the nature of man to resist compulsion.
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None grieve so ostentatiously as those who rejoice most in heart.
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Conspicuous by his absence.