Tacitus

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

— Tacitus

Posterity gives every man his true value.

— Tacitus

That cannot be safe which is not honourable.

— Tacitus

The most seditious is the most cowardly.

— Tacitus

Reckless adventure is the fool's hazard.

— Tacitus

Keen at the start, but careless at the end.

— Tacitus

Great empires are not maintained by timidity.

— Tacitus

“A bad peace is worse than war.”

— Tacitus

[The Jews have] an attitude of hostility and hatred towards all others.

— Tacitus

It is a characteristic of the human mind to hate the man one has injured.

— Tacitus

The desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise.

— Tacitus

Kindness, so far as we can return it, is agreeable.

— Tacitus

Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.

— Tacitus

The love of fame is a love that even the wisest of men are reluctant to forgo.

— Tacitus

Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful.

— Tacitus

Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.

— Tacitus

In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.

— Tacitus

Then there is the usual scene when lovers are excited with each other, quarrels, entreaties, reproaches, and then fondling reconcilement.

— Tacitus

A cowardly populace which will dare nothing beyond talk. [Lat., Vulgus ignavum et nihil ultra verba ausurum.]

— Tacitus

Neglected, calumny soon expires, show that you are hurt, and you give it the appearance of truth.

— Tacitus

Power acquired by guilt was never used for a good purpose. [Lat., Imperium flagitio acquisitum nemo unquam bonis artibus exercuit.]

— Tacitus

War will of itself discover and lay open the hidden and rankling wounds of the victorious party.

— Tacitus

When men of talents are punished, authority is strengthened. [Lat., Punitis ingeniis, gliscit auctoritas.]

— Tacitus

Yet the age was not so utterly destitute of virtues but that it produced some good examples. [Lat., Non tamen adeo virtutum…

— Tacitus

Benefits are acceptable, while the receiver thinks he may return them; but once exceeding that, hatred is given instead of thanks. [Lat.,…

— Tacitus

Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee.…

— Tacitus

This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of…

— Tacitus

So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts…

— Tacitus

The solitude lends much appeal, because a sea without a harbour surrounds it. Even a modest boat can find few anchorage, and…

— Tacitus

The images of twenty of the most illustrious families the Manlii, the Quinctii, and other names of equal splendour were carried before…

— Tacitus

“At length they gradually deviated into a taste for those luxuries which stimulate to vice; porticos, and baths, and the elegancies of…

— Tacitus

Following Emporer Nero's command, "Let the Christians be exterminated!:" . . . they [the Christians] were made the subjects of sport; they…

— Tacitus

Posterity will pay everyone their due.

— Tacitus

The unknown always passes for the marvellous.

— Tacitus

They terrify lest they should fear.

— Tacitus

Nature gives liberty even to dumb animals.

— Tacitus

The worst hatred is that of relatives.

— Tacitus

In all things there is a law of cycles.

— Tacitus

The hatred of relatives is the most violent.

— Tacitus

The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.

— Tacitus