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
belonging calm qualities reason
Reason and calm judgment: the qualities especially belonging to a leader.
aspired equal higher talents
He had talents equal to business, and aspired no higher
proper prudence qualities
Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader.
burns eloquence excite feed matter motion requires
It is of eloquence as of a flame; it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it; and it brightens as it burns
boldly courage danger meet
If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.
candor due lead ruin tempered unless
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, lead to ruin
hate human injured nature whom
It is human nature to hate those whom you have injured
reputation dangerous
An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.
memorial-day battle remember
So as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.
kindness return
Kindness, so far as we can return it, is agreeable.
reform rich poor
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety reforms the rich.
modesty lost chastity
When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
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.
time pay dues
Posterity will pay everyone their due.