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About this quote

What does it mean?
Think about both your ancestors and your descendants.
In plain terms
Consider the impact on those who came before and those who will follow.
What can you take from it?
Make decisions with respect for past and future generations.

Where it applies

  • family planning
  • environmental policy

Putting it to work

  • evaluate long‑term effects
  • honor heritage while shaping future

Questions to consider

  • What choices honor both tradition and innovation?
  • How do you weigh short‑term gains against long‑term costs?

Another view

Balancing past and future can create conflicting priorities.

More from Tacitus

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

    Permalink to quote #2

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

    Permalink to quote #4

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

    Permalink to quote #1

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