Quotes by Cornelius Tacitus

A bad peace is even worse than war.
– Cornelius Tacitus
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
– Cornelius Tacitus
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.
– Cornelius Tacitus
All enterprises that are entered into with indiscreet zeal may be pursued with great vigor at first, but are sure to collapse in the end.
– Cornelius Tacitus
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Custom adapts itself to expediency.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth; when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
– Cornelius Tacitus
He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again.
– Cornelius Tacitus
It is only necessary to make war with five things: with the maladies of the body, with the ignorances of the mind, with the passions of the body, with the seditions of the city, with the discords of families.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
– Cornelius Tacitus
No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
– Cornelius Tacitus
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
– Cornelius Tacitus
The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
– Cornelius Tacitus
The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.
– Cornelius Tacitus
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.
– Cornelius Tacitus
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
– Cornelius Tacitus
When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
– Cornelius Tacitus
When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
– Cornelius Tacitus
I am my nearest neighbour.
– Cornelius Tacitus
In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.
– Cornelius Tacitus
It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Keen at the start, but careless at the end.
– Cornelius Tacitus
No hatred is so bitter as that of near relations.
– Cornelius Tacitus
That cannot be safe which is not honourable.
– Cornelius Tacitus
There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive.
– Cornelius Tacitus
It is the rare fortuene of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.
– Cornelius Tacitus
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
– Cornelius Tacitus
Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.
– Cornelius Tacitus