--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By punishing men of talent we confirm…" description: "\"By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.\" — Tacitus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg" --- # By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority. ![“By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.” quote by Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg) > “By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.” [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Punishing talented individuals reinforces their power and authority. **In simple terms:** Punish talent to confirm their authority. Key Takeaway Beware of using repression to control influence. Themes power talent authority Mood critical analytical Type historical political When to use this quote - workplace management - political leadership - social movements Key Concepts political strategy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of silencing talent? - How can power be exercised without oppression? A Different Perspective Repression can backfire, fostering resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men-with-talent-they-lack-only/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are big men, men of intellect, intellectual men, men of talent and men of action; but the great man is difficult to find,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/there-are-big-men-men-of-intellect-intellectual-men-men-of-talent-and/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [Everyman has a God-given talent for it is inborn and its a very powerful gift that raises a man far above his peers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samule-kermis/everyman-has-a-god-given-talent-for-it-is-inborn-and-its-a-very/) [Samule Kermis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samule-kermis/) > [Beautiful it is, and a gleam from the same eternal pole-star visible amid the destinies of men, that all talent, all intellect, is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/beautiful-it-is-and-a-gleam-from-the-same-eternal-pole-star-visible/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nothing-in-this-world-can-take-the-place-of-persistence-talent-will-4/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [France always has plenty men of talent, but it is always deficient in men of action and high character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/france-always-has-plenty-men-of-talent-but-it-is-always-deficient-in/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is nothing more common than unsuccessful men with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/there-is-nothing-more-common-than-unsuccessful-men-with-talent/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [So generation after generation of men in love with pain and passivity serve out their time in the Zone, silent, redolent of faded sperm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/so-generation-after-generation-of-men-in-love-with-pain-and-passivity/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [Since women are better at producing babies, presumably Nature has given men some talent to compensate. But for the moment I can't think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/since-women-are-better-at-producing-babies-presumably-nature-has/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [“Most of the young men of talent whom I have met in this country give one the impression of being somewhat demented. Why shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/most-of-the-young-men-of-talent-whom-i-have-met-in-this-country-give/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [In every trade save war men of talent and vigor prosper. In war they die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/in-every-trade-save-war-men-of-talent-and-vigor-prosper-in-war-they/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [We believe that if men have the talent to invent new machines that put men out of work, they have the talent to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-believe-that-if-men-have-the-talent-to-invent-new-machines-that/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I do not think men have more talent. There are a great many women in the arts; novelists, painters, sculptors, poets-but the proportion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-fields/i-do-not-think-men-have-more-talent-there-are-a-great-many-women-in/) [Dorothy Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-fields/) > [We earth men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-earth-men-have-a-talent-for-ruining-big-beautiful-things/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Two kinds of men generally best succeed in political life; men of no principle, but of great talent; and men of no talent, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/two-kinds-of-men-generally-best-succeed-in-political-life-men-of-no/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) ## More by Tacitus > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Rumor does not always err; it sometimes even elects a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/rumor-does-not-always-err-it-sometimes-even-elects-a-man/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-than-those-who-most-rejoice-at-it-a/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/be-assured-those-will-be-thy-worst-enemies-not-to-whom-thou-hast-done/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Christianity is a pestilent superstition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/christianity-is-a-pestilent-superstition/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/indeed-the-crowning-proof-of-their-valour-and-their-strength-is-that/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/formerly-we-suffered-from-crimes-now-we-suffer-from-laws/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously over the death of Germanicus than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-over-the-death-of-germanicus-than/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/once-killing-starts-it-is-difficult-to-draw-the-line/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/the-lust-of-dominion-burns-with-a-flame-so-fierce-as-to-overpower-all/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“It is a principle of nature to hate those whom you have injured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-principle-of-nature-to-hate-those-whom-you-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Kindness, so far as we can return it, is agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/kindness-so-far-as-we-can-return-it-is-agreeable/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Posterity gives every man his true value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/posterity-gives-every-man-his-true-value/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/the-most-detestable-race-of-enemies-are-flatterers/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) [Explore all 227 Tacitus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tacitus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-their-authority/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-their-authority/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/tacitus-1552_authority_by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-th_672207.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By punishing men of talent we confirm their authority.” — Tacitus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tacitus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By punishing men of talent we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-their-authority/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/by-punishing-men-of-talent-we-confirm-their-authority/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```