Tacitus

Solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant. They make a wilderness and they call it peace.

— Tacitus

When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.

— Tacitus

By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled.

— Tacitus

“This is an unfair thing about war: victory is claimed by all, failure to one alone.”

— Tacitus

The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.

— Tacitus

People flatter us because they can depend upon our credulity.

— Tacitus

The hatred of those who are near to us is most violent.

— Tacitus

Miseram pacem vel bello bene mutari. Even war is preferable to a shameful peace.

— Tacitus

Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded,…

— Tacitus

All ancient history was written with a moral object; the ethical interest predominates almost to the exclusion of all others.

— Tacitus

Our magistrates discharge their duties best at the beginning; and fall off toward the end. [Lat., Initia magistratuum nostrorum meliora, ferme finis…

— Tacitus

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.

— Tacitus

No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted.

— Tacitus

[That form of] eloquence, the foster-child of licence, which fools call liberty. [Lat., Eloquentia, alumna licentiae, quam stulti libertatem vocabant.]

— Tacitus

To rob, to ravage, to murder, in their imposing language, are the arts of civil policy. When they have made the world…

— Tacitus

The powerful hold in deep remembrance an ill-timed pleasantry. [Lat., Facetiarum apud praepotentes in longum memoria est.]

— Tacitus

Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.

— Tacitus

Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.

— Tacitus

The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.

— Tacitus

Perdomita Britannia et statim omissa. Britain was conquered and immediately lost.

— Tacitus

It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

— Tacitus

Everything unknown is magnified. [Lat., Omne ignotum pro magnifico est.]

— Tacitus

The wicked find it easier to coalesce for seditious purposes than for concord in peace.

— Tacitus

It is a principle of human nature to hate those whom we have injured.

— Tacitus

It is the nature of the human disposition to hate him whom you have injured.

— Tacitus

So as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.

— Tacitus

Traitors are hated even by those whom they prefer.

— Tacitus

The love of dominion is the most engrossing passion.

— Tacitus

All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.

— Tacitus

Nothing mortal is so unstable and subject to change as power which has no foundation.

— Tacitus

Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.

— Tacitus

We are corrupted by good fortune. [Lat., Felicitate corrumpimur.]

— Tacitus

Posterity allows to every man his true value and proper honours.

— Tacitus

Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety reforms the rich.

— Tacitus

The injustice of a government is proportional to the number of its laws.

— Tacitus

In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.

— Tacitus

The worst crimes were dared by a few, willed by more and tolerated by all.

— Tacitus

So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and…

— Tacitus

It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.

— Tacitus

Even honor and virtue make enemies, condemning, as they do, their opposites by too close a contrast.

— Tacitus