Best 172 quotes of Tacitus on MyQuotes

A bad peace is even worse than war.

A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp sting behind it.

A cowardly populace which will dare nothing beyond talk. [Lat., Vulgus ignavum et nihil ultra verba ausurum.]

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

Adversity deprives us of our judgment.

All ancient history was written with a moral object; the ethical interest predominates almost to the exclusion of all others.

All bodies are slow in growth but rapid in decay.

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.

All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.

All those things that are now field to be of the greatest antiquity were at one time new; what we to-day hold up by example will rank hereafter as precedent.

A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.

An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.

An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]

A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.

Auctor nominis eius Christus,Tiberio imperitante, per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum, supplicio affectus erat. Christ, the leader of the sect, had been put to death by the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.

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.

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.

Bodies are slow of growth, but are rapid in their dissolution. [Lat., Corpora lente augescent, cito extinguuntur.]

Bottling up his malice to be suppressed and brought out with increased violence.

By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled.

Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.

Cassius and Brutus were the more distinguished for that very circumstance that their portraits were absent. [Lat., Praefulgebant Cassius atque Brutus eo ipso, quod effigies eorum non videbantur.]

Christianity is a pestilent superstition.

Crime succeeds by sudden despatch; honest counsels gain vigor by delay.

Cruelty is fed, not weakened, by tears.

Deos fortioribus adesse. The gods support those who are stronger.

Eloquence wins its great and enduring fame quite as much from the benches of our opponents as from those of our friends.

Even for learned men, love of fame is the last thing to be given up.

Even honor and virtue make enemies, condemning, as they do, their opposites by too close a contrast.

Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.

Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.

Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was afterwards boldest in words and tongue.

Experience teaches. [Lat., Experientia docet.]

Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth.

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.

Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies. [Lat., Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes.]

Flattery labors under the odious charge of servility.

Following Emporer Nero's command, "Let the Christians be exterminated!:" . . . they [the Christians] were made the subjects of sport; they were covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights.

Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader. [Lat., Ratio et consilium, propriae ducis artes.]

Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

He (Tiberius) was wont to mock at the arts of physicians, and at those who, after thirty years of age, needed counsel as to what was good or bad for their bodies.

If we must fall, we should boldly meet our fate.

If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger. [Lat., Si cadere necesse est, occurendum discrimini.]

If you would know who controls you see who you may not criticise.

In all things there is a kind of law of cycles. [Lat., Rebus cunctis inest quidam velut orbis.]

In all things there is a law of cycles.

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

In careless ignorance they think it civilization, when in reality it is a portion of their slavery...To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false pretenses, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.

Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.

In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.