Tacitus Quotes (38 Quotes)


    Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.

    When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.

    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.

    Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

    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.


    Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

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

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

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

    He had a certain frankness and generosity, qualities indeed which turn to a man's ruin, unless tempered with discretion.

    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.

    To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.

    Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.

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

    The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

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

    Things forbidden have a secret charm.

    Custom adapts itself to expediency.

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

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

    Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.

    The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

    It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.

    When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.

    Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.

    It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

    We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.

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

    A bad peace is even worse than war.

    To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may 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.

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

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

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

    When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.

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

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

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


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