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
force accomplish prudence
We accomplish more by prudence than by force. [Lat., Plura consilio quam vi perficimus.]
confidence
There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive.
safe
That cannot be safe which is not honourable.
ends careless
Keen at the start, but careless at the end.
race enemy flatterer
The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.
passion dominion
The love of dominion is the most engrossing passion.
purpose crime
Power won by crime no one ever yet turned to a good purpose.
adversity judgment
Adversity deprives us of our judgment.
sorrow shows greater
None make a greater show of sorrow than those who are most delighted.
violence malice
Bottling up his malice to be suppressed and brought out with increased violence.
hate men mind
It is a characteristic of the human mind to hate the man one has injured.
peace war
It was rather a cessation of war than a beginning of peace. [Lat., Bellum magis desierat, quam pax coeperat.]
reform rich poor
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety reforms the rich.
winning benches opponents
Eloquence wins its great and enduring fame quite as much from the benches of our opponents as from those of our friends.