--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Zealous in the commencement, careless in…" description: "\"Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end.\" — Tacitus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg" --- # Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end. ![“Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end.” quote by Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg) > “Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end.” [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. Enthusiasm at the start can be reckless, leading to neglect of details later. **In simple terms:** Excitement early, carelessness later. Key Takeaway Balance enthusiasm with diligence throughout. Themes enthusiasm carelessness balance Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - project planning - leadership - event organization Key Concepts roman history human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain focus after initial excitement? - What safeguards prevent carelessness? A Different Perspective Excitement can blind oversight if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Careless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless/) [Careless End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless-end-912122/) [Commencement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commencement/) [Commencement Careless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commencement-careless-5754624/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Zealous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zealous/) [Zealous Commencement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zealous-commencement-5754625/) ## Related quotes > [Keen at the start, but careless at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/keen-at-the-start-but-careless-at-the-end/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [In careless ignorance they think it civilization, when in reality it is a portion of their slavery...To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/in-careless-ignorance-they-think-it-civilization-when-in-reality-it/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Is mathematics doomed to suffer the same fate as other sciences that have split into separate branches?... Mathematics is, in my opinion, an indivisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/is-mathematics-doomed-to-suffer-the-same-fate-as-other-sciences-that/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [Pelagianism is the natural heresy of zealous Christians who are not interested in theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/pelagianism-is-the-natural-heresy-of-zealous-christians-who-are-not/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [We are more inclined to hate one another for points on which we differ, than to love one another for points on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-are-more-inclined-to-hate-one-another-for-points-on-which-we/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [I remember a passage in Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield," which he was afterwards fool enough to expunge: "I do not love a man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-remember-a-passage-in-goldsmith-s-vicar-of-wakefield-which-he-was/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The most zealous converters are always the most rancorous when they fail of producing conversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-most-zealous-converters-are-always-the-most-rancorous-when-they/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The ministers, who preached at these revivals, were in earnest. They were zealous and sincere. They were not philosophers. To them science was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-ministers-who-preached-at-these-revivals-were-in-earnest-they/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The zest for life of those unusual men and women who make a great zealous success of living is due more often in good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/the-zest-for-life-of-those-unusual-men-and-women-who-make-a-great/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [Lycurgus being asked why he, who in other respects appeared to be so zealous for the equal rights of men, did not make his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/lycurgus-being-asked-why-he-who-in-other-respects-appeared-to-be-so/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [So willing is every man to flatter himself, that the difference between approving laws, and obeying them, is frequently forgotten; he that acknowledges the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/so-willing-is-every-man-to-flatter-himself-that-the-difference/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I've always been very zealous about not invading other people's private spaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/i-ve-always-been-very-zealous-about-not-invading-other-people-s/) [Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/) > [In my judgment, a great mistake has been made by well meaning and zealous men, through treating error and infidelity with altogether too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/in-my-judgment-a-great-mistake-has-been-made-by-well-meaning-and/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## 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 Careless quotes > [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [the greater part of the suffering in the world is caused not by wicked intents and hard hearts, but by the careless desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marah-ellis-ryan/the-greater-part-of-the-suffering-in-the-world-is-caused-not-by/) [Marah Ellis Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marah-ellis-ryan/) > [It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-the-habit-of-mankind-to-entrust-to-careless-hope-what-they-long/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/and-hast-thou-sworn-on-every-slight-pretence-till-perjuries-are/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/they-are-not-brave-the-days-when-we-are-twenty-one-they-are-full-of/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Being carefree, you can fit in anywhere. If you’re not carefree you keep on bumping up against things. Your life becomes so narrow, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/being-carefree-you-can-fit-in-anywhere-if-you-re-not-carefree-you/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) > [The paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even in order to keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-paradox-of-courage-is-that-a-man-must-be-a-little-careless-of-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Phaedra shook her head. “If your people mean no offense, they should not speak their thoughts out loud in front of their children, Tesadora.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-shook-her-head-if-your-people-mean-no-offense-they-should-not/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Galvanized people can do careless things. It is in the extreme and emotion-laden moments that distance and coolness are most required. I am tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/galvanized-people-can-do-careless-things-it-is-in-the-extreme-and/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [You don't have to give way to careless speech or complaining. You don't have to let your feelings get in the way of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-don-t-have-to-give-way-to-careless-speech-or-complaining-you-don/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Take good care of the things you have. Careless people spend more for a given standard of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/take-good-care-of-the-things-you-have-careless-people-spend-more-for/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [A lot of white men in the music industry are promoting and participating in black culture in a way that is pretty careless. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/a-lot-of-white-men-in-the-music-industry-are-promoting-and/) [Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/) > [That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over, lest you should think he never could recapture the first fine careless rapture!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/that-s-the-wise-thrush-he-sings-each-song-twice-over-lest-you-should/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) [Browse all 450 Careless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tacitus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in-the-end/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Careless" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in-the-end/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/tacitus-1552_careless_zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in_735816.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Zealous in the commencement, careless in the end.” — 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": "Zealous in the commencement, careless in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in-the-end/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/zealous-in-the-commencement-careless-in-the-end/#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 } } ] } ```