Tacitus Quotes

Tacitus presents lofty, reflective thoughts on law and morality that feel like timeless counsel from an ancient philosopher.

32 quotes

1. Idque apud imperitos humanitas vocabatur, cum pars servitutis esset.

2. Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.

3. Et maiores vestros et posteros cogitate.

4. Tu vero felix, Agricola, non vitae tantum claritate, sed etiam opportunitate mortis.

5. Quanquam severa illic matrimonia

6. ...good habits are here more effectual than good laws elsewhere. (translation)

7. It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.

8. Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.

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

10. Deos fortioribus adesse.

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

12. He had talents equal to business, and aspired no higher.

13. What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.

14. So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most precarious hearsays, others turn facts into falsehood; and both are exaggerated by posterity.

15. Abuse, if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated you will be thought to have deserved it.

16. Liberty is given by nature even to mute animals.

17. Great empires are not maintained by timidity.

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

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

20. Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are repaid with hatred instead of gratitude.

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

22. None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it [a death].

23. Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.

24. Christianity is a pestilent superstition.

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

26. Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.

27. None mourn more ostentatiously over the death of Germanicus than those who most rejoice at it [a death].

28. The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.

29. Kindness, so far as we can return it, is agreeable.

30. Posterity gives every man his true value.

31. The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.

32. The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.