--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever…" description: "\"“Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, [the Jews’] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/elaine-pagels-8423_jews_even-tacitus-admitted-that-whatever-thei_61864.jpg" --- # Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, \[the… ![“Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, [the Jews’] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. Christians, however, had no such excuse.” quote by Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/elaine-pagels-8423_jews_even-tacitus-admitted-that-whatever-thei_61864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/elaine-pagels-8423_jews_even-tacitus-admitted-that-whatever-thei_61864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/elaine-pagels-8423_jews_even-tacitus-admitted-that-whatever-thei_61864.jpg) > ““Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, \[the Jews’\] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. Christians, however, had no such excuse.”” [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that unlike Jews, whose customs were tolerated because of their ancient roots, Christians lacked a similar historical justification, making them vulnerable to criticism. **In simple terms:** Contrast between Jewish and Christian legitimacy. Key Takeaway Historical tradition shields practices. Themes Religion History Cultural Legitimacy Power Dynamics Tradition vs Innovation Mood Reflective Critical Analytical Type Historical Analytical Critical When to use this quote - Academic debate on religious origins - Legal disputes over religious freedom - Interfaith dialogues - Historical analysis of early Christianity Key Concepts Antiquity Roman Authority Religious Tolerance Social Legitimacy Practical Applications - Teaching religious history - Informing policy on religious accommodation Questions to Reflect On - Why does antiquity confer legitimacy? - How do societies decide which traditions to protect? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jews/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romans/) ## Related quotes > [The Romans weren't trying to kill all the Jews, but they did destroy Jewish resistance to Roman rule. Jerusalem was turned into a Roman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-romans-weren-t-trying-to-kill-all-the-jews-but-they-did-destroy/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“To Judaism Christians ascribe the glory of having been the first religion to teach a pure monotheism. But monotheism existed long before the Jews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-remsburg/to-judaism-christians-ascribe-the-glory-of-having-been-the-first/) John E. Remsburg > [Well, if you look at the whole story, I mean there's only Jews and Romans in the story. I mean I just wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/well-if-you-look-at-the-whole-story-i-mean-there-s-only-jews-and/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [I had been taught that the separation between religion and politics happened in the Enlightenment. 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The Roman Empire is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-romans-have-provided-a-lot-of-writers-with-a-model-for-various/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“Romans 8: 28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-lubben/romans-8-28-and-we-know-that-in-all-things-god-works-for-the-good-of/) [Shelley Lubben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-lubben/) > [Greek is the embodiment of the fluent speech that runs or soars, the speech of a people which could not help giving winged feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/greek-is-the-embodiment-of-the-fluent-speech-that-runs-or-soars-the/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [Citizens of Rome might boast that the claim of 'Civus romanus sum' set them apart from barbarians and slaves, and it was true up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/citizens-of-rome-might-boast-that-the-claim-of-civus-romanus-sum-set/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [“Jesus was, if anything, far more useful than dangerous to the Romans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-salibi/jesus-was-if-anything-far-more-useful-than-dangerous-to-the-romans/) [Kamal Salibi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-salibi/) > [Are we like late Rome, infatuated with past glories, ruled by a complacent, greedy elite, and hopelessly powerless to respond to changing conditions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/are-we-like-late-rome-infatuated-with-past-glories-ruled-by-a/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Rome has betrayed itself. It knew the truth and chose violence, it knew humaneness and it chose tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/rome-has-betrayed-itself-it-knew-the-truth-and-chose-violence-it-knew/) [Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/) > [“The Romans, Jones pointed out, called a man in love salax, in a salted state, which is the origin of the word salacious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/the-romans-jones-pointed-out-called-a-man-in-love-salax-in-a-salted/) [Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/) > [The Romans knew it: quod me alit me extinguit, they said: That which nourishes me, extinguishes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-romans-knew-it-quod-me-alit-me-extinguit-they-said-that-which/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The central government was a despotism tempered by military rebellion and assassination and replacement of one scurvy lot of ruling dynasts by another. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/the-central-government-was-a-despotism-tempered-by-military-rebellion/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [“When the ancient Romans would conquer a new place or a new people, they would leave the language and the customs in tact –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/when-the-ancient-romans-would-conquer-a-new-place-or-a-new-people/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) ## More by Elaine Pagels > [“Only the Jews, of all the nations under Roman rule, had won the right to separate their political obligations from religious ones, to obey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/only-the-jews-of-all-the-nations-under-roman-rule-had-won-the-right/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [There's practically no religion that I know of that sees other people in a way that affirms the others' choices. But in our century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/there-s-practically-no-religion-that-i-know-of-that-sees-other-people/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [He's an intimate betrayer. That's what's so troubling. Judas turned in his own teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/he-s-an-intimate-betrayer-that-s-what-s-so-troubling-judas-turned-in/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Antichrist is often identified with the second beast in the Book of Revelation that arises from the land, the beast that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-antichrist-is-often-identified-with-the-second-beast-in-the-book/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“Jesus—for example, his categorical rejection of divorce, or his statement that “if anyone does not hate his own father and mother and wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/jesus-for-example-his-categorical-rejection-of-divorce-or-his/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Gospel of Thomas claims to be the secret sayings of Jesus. There are 114 of them, so it says many things, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-gospel-of-thomas-claims-to-be-the-secret-sayings-of-jesus-there/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [I just have a sense that, you know, I'm curious about what is religion about, you know? 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For I did not want to ask about heavenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-beseech-you-my-lord-why-have-i-been-endowed-with-the-power-of/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“thus the story of Eden was made to reinforce the patriarchal structure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/thus-the-story-of-eden-was-made-to-reinforce-the-patriarchal-structure/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The author of the Gospel of Judas wasn't against martyrdom, and he didn't ever insult the martyrs. He said it's one thing to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-author-of-the-gospel-of-judas-wasn-t-against-martyrdom-and-he/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“gnostics celebrated as proof of spiritual maturity, the orthodox denounced as “deviation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/gnostics-celebrated-as-proof-of-spiritual-maturity-the-orthodox/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [Startling as the Gospel of Judas sounds, it amplifies hints we have long read in the Gospels of Mark and John that Jesus knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/startling-as-the-gospel-of-judas-sounds-it-amplifies-hints-we-have/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Book of Revelation is all about the conflict, the contest between the forces of Good and Evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-book-of-revelation-is-all-about-the-conflict-the-contest-between/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) [Explore all 81 Elaine Pagels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) ## More Jews quotes > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) Twe Stephens > [“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-elleg-rd/i-argue-that-the-jesus-of-the-gospels-is-essentially-a-myth-the/) Alvar Ellegård > [“At the same time Beyazid II, the eighth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, issued an invitation to the 250,000 Jews banished by Spain to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ay-e-kulin/at-the-same-time-beyazid-ii-the-eighth-sultan-of-the-ottoman-empire/) [Ayşe Kulin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ay-e-kulin/) > [My parents were Orthodox Jews but not very regular Orthodox Jews. I was bar mitzvahed and all that. But God was hardly ever mentioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-parents-were-orthodox-jews-but-not-very-regular-orthodox-jews-i/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) Martin A. Siegel > [“I do not know where Viktor and Rudolf were taken. I cannot find the records. I never Elisabeth or Iggie. It is possible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/i-do-not-know-where-viktor-and-rudolf-were-taken-i-cannot-find-the/) [Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/) > [“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/odd-don-t-you-think-i-have-seen-war-and-invasions-and-riots-i-have/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-story-of-the-jews-in-the-bible-is-replete-with-incidents-of-their/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [“The Jews were, as he (Augustine) put it, the living letters of the Law, that they were a constant reminder of the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-f-madden/the-jews-were-as-he-augustine-put-it-the-living-letters-of-the-law/) [Thomas F. Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-f-madden/) > [“The Jews are an ignorant and barbarous people, who have long united the most sordid avarice with the most detestable superstition and the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-jews-are-an-ignorant-and-barbarous-people-who-have-long-united/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The Jews are the conscience of the world. They are the father figures, stern, critical, and forbidding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-hilberg/the-jews-are-the-conscience-of-the-world-they-are-the-father-figures/) [Raul Hilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-hilberg/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. 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A white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/who-are-the-slumlords-in-the-black-community-the-so-called-jews-who/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) [Browse all 742 Jews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jews/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, [the Jews’] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. 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