Tacitus

This I regard as history's highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity…

— Tacitus

Modest fame is not to be despised by the highest characters. [Lat., Modestiae fama neque summis mortalibus spernenda est.]

— Tacitus

None grieve so ostentatiously as those who rejoice most in heart. [Lat., Nulla jactantius moerent quam qui maxime laetantur.]

— Tacitus

An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]

— Tacitus

There are odious virtues; such as inflexible severity, and an integrity that accepts of no favor.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

He (Tiberius) was wont to mock at the arts of physicians, and at those who, after thirty years of age, needed counsel…

— Tacitus

Eloquence wins its great and enduring fame quite as much from the benches of our opponents as from those of our friends.

— Tacitus

Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.

— Tacitus

It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.

— Tacitus

In all things there is a kind of law of cycles. [Lat., Rebus cunctis inest quidam velut orbis.]

— Tacitus

Power is more safely retained by cautious than by severe councils. [Lat., Potentiam cautis quam acribus consiliis tutius haberi.]

— Tacitus

Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

— Tacitus

We extol ancient things, regardless of our own times. [Lat., Vetera extollimus recentium incuriosi.]

— Tacitus

Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.

— Tacitus

All those things that are now field to be of the greatest antiquity were at one time new; what we to-day hold…

— Tacitus

He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise…

— Tacitus

You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure. -Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter

— Tacitus

We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.

— Tacitus

If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger. [Lat., Si cadere necesse est, occurendum discrimini.]

— Tacitus

“Who, to say nothing about the perils of an awful and unknown sea, would have left Asia or Africa or Italy to…

— Tacitus