When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
—Tacitus
Topics: Modesty, Humility
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
—Tacitus
Topics: Cities, City Life
The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms. Armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes.
—Tacitus
Topics: Taxes, Taxation
So, as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.
—Tacitus
Topics: The Military
All enterprises that are entered into with indiscreet zeal may be pursued with great vigor at first, but are sure to collapse in the end.
—Tacitus
Topics: Prudence
Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
—Tacitus
Topics: Opinions, Opinion
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
—Tacitus
Topics: Oppression, One liners
It is a weakness of your human nature to hate those whom you have wronged.
—Tacitus
Topics: Hatred, Insults
Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions
—Tacitus
If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.
—Tacitus
Topics: Courage, Bravery, Danger
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.
—Tacitus
Topics: Bravery, Valor
Custom adapts itself to expediency.
—Tacitus
He who is next heir to supreme power, is always suspected and hated by him who actually wields it.
—Tacitus
Topics: Jealousy
They make a wilderness and call it peace.
—Tacitus
Topics: Peace
Pliability and liberality, when not restrained within due bounds, must ever turn to the ruin of their possessor.
—Tacitus
Topics: Excess
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
—Tacitus
Topics: Deception/Lying
Power acquired by guilt has seldom been directed to any good end or useful purpose.
—Tacitus
Topics: Power
Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.
—Tacitus
Topics: Guilt
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety the rich.
—Tacitus
Topics: Reform
The hatred of relatives is the most violent.
—Tacitus
Topics: Family
The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.
—Tacitus
Topics: Bravery, Courage
Truth is established by investigation and delay; falsehood prospers by precipitancy.
—Tacitus
Topics: Truth
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
—Tacitus
Topics: Fortune, Misfortunes, Prosperity
The more corrupt the state, the more laws.
—Tacitus
Topics: Lawyers, Law
The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.
—Tacitus
Topics: Justice
The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off.
—Tacitus
Topics: Fame
Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth; when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has any one who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth, any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.
—Tacitus
Topics: Opportunity, Truth
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
—Tacitus
Topics: Adversity
Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.
—Tacitus
Topics: Fear
It is human nature to hate him whom you have injured.
—Tacitus
Topics: Hatred
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) Roman Rhetorician
- Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) Roman Statesman
- Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) Roman Stoic Philosopher
- Cicero Roman Philosopher
- Quintilian Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
- Petronius Roman Courtier
- Pliny the Elder Roman Scholar
- Apuleius Roman Prose Writer
- Pliny the Younger Roman Senator, Writer
- Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) Roman Poet
Leave a Reply