Tacitus

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.
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.