Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.

— Tacitus

If we must fall, we should boldly meet our fate.

— Tacitus

The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.

— Tacitus

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

— 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

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

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

Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.

— Tacitus

To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.

— Tacitus

The views of the multitude are neither bad nor good. [Lat., Neque mala, vel bona, quae vulgus putet.]

— Tacitus

“He realized that monarchy was essential to peace, and that the price of freedom was violence and disorder.”

— Tacitus

People flatter us because they can depend upon our credulity.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus

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

— 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

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

— 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

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

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

— Tacitus

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

— 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

The love of dominion is the most engrossing passion.

— Tacitus

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

— 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

Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.

— Tacitus

Rumor does not always err; it sometimes even elects a man.

— Tacitus

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

— Tacitus

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

— Tacitus