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About this quote

What does it mean?
Great empires require courage and bold action, not fear or hesitation.
In plain terms
Boldness builds empires; fear destroys them.
What can you take from it?
Courage is essential for maintaining power and influence.

Where it applies

  • governance
  • military strategy
  • organizational leadership

Putting it to work

  • lead with confidence
  • avoid paralysis by analysis
  • prioritize bold decisions

Questions to consider

  • When does timidity become a liability?
  • How do you balance caution and boldness?

Another view

Sometimes caution is necessary to prevent reckless expansion.

More from Tacitus

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

    Permalink to quote #16

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

    Permalink to quote #18

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

    Permalink to quote #15

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