Tacitus

A bad peace is even worse than war.

— Tacitus

They make a desert and call it peace.

— Tacitus

Whatever is unknown is magnified.

— Tacitus

Corruptisima republica plurimae leges.

— Tacitus

Christianity is a pestilent superstition.

— Tacitus

Conspicuous by his absence.

— Tacitus

Valor is the contempt of death and pain.

— Tacitus

Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth.

— Tacitus

It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.

— Tacitus

Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.

— Tacitus

None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it [a death].

— Tacitus

We accomplish more by prudence than by force. [Lat., Plura consilio quam vi perficimus.]

— Tacitus

Experience teaches. [Lat., Experientia docet.]

— Tacitus

The love of fame is the last weakness which even the wise resign.

— Tacitus

Legions and fleets are not such sure bulwarks of imperial power as a numerous family

— Tacitus

Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

Such being the happiness of the times, that you may think as you wish, and speak as you think.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and…

— Tacitus

“…that nothing is so weak and unstable as a reputation for power which is not based on one's own strength.”

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

Tacitus has written an entire work on the manners of the Germans. This work is short, but it comes from the pen…

— Tacitus

Auctor nominis eius Christus,Tiberio imperitante, per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum, supplicio affectus erat. Christ, the leader of the sect, had been put to…

— Tacitus

“Not that I would reject those resemblances of the human figure which are engraven in brass or marbles but as their originals…

— Tacitus

“But there are no more nations beyond us; nothing is there but waves and rocks, and the Romans, more deadly still than…

— Tacitus

“Battles against Rome have been lost and won before, but hope was never abandoned, since we were always here in reserve. We,…

— Tacitus

The customs of the Jews are base and abominable and owe their persistence to their depravity. Jews are extremely loyal to one…

— Tacitus

I am my nearest neighbour.

— Tacitus

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

— Tacitus

Adversity deprives us of our judgment.

— Tacitus

In valor there is hope.

— Tacitus

They make solitude, which they call peace.

— Tacitus