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
tears politics feds
Cruelty is fed, not weakened, by tears.
best-friend worst-enemy history
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.
escaping brave trouble
There was more courage in bearing trouble than in escaping from it; the brave and the energetic cling to hope, even in spite of fortune; the cowardly and the indolent are hurried by their fears,' said Plotius Firmus, Roman Praetorian Guard.
character law history
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.
generosity ruins moderation
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.
fall hands coward
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.
inspirational bitter jest
A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp sting behind it.
passion men desire
The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.
rome cities shameless
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
attitude hatred jew
[The Jews have] an attitude of hostility and hatred towards all others.
punishment suffering example
Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.
lines killing difficult
Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.
flames lust dominion
The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.
sin
One who is allowed to sin, sins less