Tacitus Quotes
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The principal office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.
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It is a part of the nature of man to resist compulsion.
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Crime succeeds by sudden despatch; honest counsels gain vigor by delay.
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Such being the happiness of the times, that you may think as you wish, and speak as you think.
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The desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise.
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An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life.
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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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What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.
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You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure. -Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter
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By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled.
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Nature gives liberty even to dumb animals.
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Adversity deprives us of our judgment.
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Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
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Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful.
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The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.
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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.
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Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives or immigrants, remains obscure; one must remember we are dealing with barbarians.
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The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.
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Remedies are more tardy in their operation than diseases.
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It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.
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The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms, armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes
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That form of eloquence, the foster-child of licence, which fools call liberty.
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The grove is the centre of their whole religion. It is regarded as the cradle of the race and the dwelling-place of the supreme god to whom all things are subject and obedient.