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
history evil deeds
This I regard as history's highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity as a terror to evil words and deeds.
race dwelling-place tree
The grove is the centre of their whole religion. It is regarded as the cradle of the race and the dwelling-place of the supreme god to whom all things are subject and obedient.
death honorable-death honorable
An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]
leadership business quality
Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader..
leader quality calm
Reason and calm judgment, the qualities specially belonging to a leader.
secret charm forbidden
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
struggle adversity wealth
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
peace desert making-peace
They make a desert and call it peace.
ambition land greed
They have plundered the world, stripping naked the land in their hunger… they are driven by greed, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor… They ravage, they slaughter, they seize by false pretenses, and all of this they hail as the construction of empire. And when in their wake nothing remains but a desert, they call that peace.
may resentment shows
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
hate power next
Rulers always hate and suspect the next in succession. [Lat., Suspectum semper invisumque dominantibus qui proximus destinaretur.]
history reign emperor
No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
delay haste truth-is
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
dog house tails
Modern houses are so small we've had to train our dog to wag its tail up and down and not sideways.