Tacitus
Tacitus
PubliusCornelius Tacituswas a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors. These two works span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in AD 14 to the years of the First Jewish–Roman War in AD 70. There are substantial lacunae in the surviving texts,...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionHistorian
political politics audacity
Crime, once exposed, has no refuge but in audacity.
courage determination work
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
vigor may firsts
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.
peace war empires
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
inspirational motivational beautiful
Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful.
inspirational reality blessing
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
modesty lost chastity
When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
fear perfect causes
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.
encouragement errors events
So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and both errors find encouragement with posterity.
time pay dues
Posterity will pay everyone their due.
time old-things
Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.
fear sincerity habit
Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth.
freedom thinking wish
Such being the happiness of the times, that you may think as you wish, and speak as you think.
thinking may likes
It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.