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
death honorable-death honorable
An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]
art peace solitude
To rob, to ravage, to murder, in their imposing language, are the arts of civil policy. When they have made the world a solitude, they call it peace. [Lat., Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium, atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.]
revolution cowardly
The most seditious is the most cowardly.
may paranoia ifs
If you would know who controls you see who you may not criticise.
abuse criticism irritated
Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.
secret charm forbidden
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
sports christian dog
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.
men desire oppression
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.
leader reign christ
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.
reputation dangerous
An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.
peace freedom war
The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
gratitude revenge men
Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure
heart passion lust
The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion.