Tacitus (56-120)

Quotes

• The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

• It is human nature to hate him whom you have injured.

• A bad peace is even worse than war.

• A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

• Abuse, if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

• 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.

• Those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.

• 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.

• Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

• 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.

• In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.

• It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.

• 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.

• Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.

• Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.

• No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.

• Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.

• Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.

• Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

• Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.