Tacitus

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

— 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

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.

— Tacitus

Style, like the human body, is specially beautiful when the veins are not prominent and the bones cannot be counted.

— Tacitus

“Rarely will two or three tribes confer to repulse a common danger. Accordingly they fight individually and are collectively conquered.”

— Tacitus

Modern houses are so small we've had to train our dog to wag its tail up and down and not sideways.

— Tacitus

All enterprises that are entered into with indiscreet zeal may be pursued with great vigor at first, but are sure to collapse…

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— 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

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

— Tacitus

“Think of it. Fifteen whole years-no small part of a mans life.-taken from us-all the most energetic have fallen to the cruelty…

— Tacitus

They even say that an altar dedicated to Ulysses , with the addition of the name of his father, Laertes , was…

— Tacitus

The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair through fear alone. [Lat., Fortes et strenuos…

— Tacitus

“fortes et strenuos etiam contra fortunam insistere, timidos et ignoros ad desperationem formidine properare - the brave and bold persist even against…

— Tacitus

To abandon your shield is the basest of crimes; nor may a man thus disgraced be present at the sacred rites, or…

— Tacitus

Reason and calm judgment, the qualities specially belonging to a leader.

— Tacitus

Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.

— Tacitus

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

— Tacitus

The persecution of genius fosters its influence.

— Tacitus

There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive.

— Tacitus

Falsehood avails itself of haste and uncertainty.

— Tacitus

The changeful change of circumstances. [Lat., Varia sors rerum.]

— Tacitus

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

— 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

It is common, to esteem most what is most unknown.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

It is a part of the nature of man to resist compulsion.

— Tacitus

A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.

— Tacitus

When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.

— Tacitus

In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.

— Tacitus