Tacitus Quotes

Most popular Tacitus Quotes

They make a desert and call it peace. - Tacitus quote.
They make a desert and call it peace.
— Tacitus
The only hope for safety was in boldness. - Tacitus quote.
The only hope for safety was in boldness.
— Tacitus
The persecution of genius fosters its influence. - Tacitus quote.
The persecution of genius fosters its influence.
— Tacitus
If we must fall, we should boldly meet our fate. - Tacitus quote.
If we must fall, we should boldly meet our fate.
— Tacitus
Everything that is unknown is taken to be grand. - Tacitus quote.
Everything that is unknown is taken to be grand.
— Tacitus
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety the rich. - Tacitus quote.
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety the rich.
— Tacitus
Reason and judgement are the qualities of a leader. - Tacitus quote.
Reason and judgement are the qualities of a leader.
— Tacitus

leadership

Greater things are believed of those who are absent. - Tacitus quote.
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
— Tacitus
When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied. - Tacitus quote.
When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.
— Tacitus
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it. - Tacitus quote.
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
— Tacitus The Annals of Tacitus

resentment

Power acquired by guilt has seldom been directed to any good end or useful purpose. - Tacitus quote.
Power acquired by guilt has seldom been directed to any good end or useful purpose.
— Tacitus
Truth is established by investigation and delay; falsehood prospers by precipitancy. - Tacitus quote.
Truth is established by investigation and delay; falsehood prospers by precipitancy.
— Tacitus
For the desire for glory clings even to the best of men longer than any other passion. - Tacitus quote.
For the desire for glory clings even to the best of men longer than any other passion.
— Tacitus
A man who is the next heir to supreme power is always suspected and hated by those who actually wield it. - Tacitus quote.
A man who is the next heir to supreme power is always suspected and hated by those who actually wield it.
— Tacitus
Great eloquence, like fire, grows with its material; it becomes fiercer with movement, and brighter as it burns. - Tacitus quote.
Great eloquence, like fire, grows with its material; it becomes fiercer with movement, and brighter as it burns.
— Tacitus Dialogus de Oratoribus

eloquence

Style, like the human body, is specially beautiful when the veins are not prominent and the bones cannot be counted. - Tacitus quote.
Style, like the human body, is specially beautiful when the veins are not prominent and the bones cannot be counted.
— Tacitus A Dialogue on Oratory

style

Prosperity is the touchstone of virtue; for it is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure. - Tacitus quote.
Prosperity is the touchstone of virtue; for it is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
— Tacitus
The chief office of history [is] to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them. - Tacitus quote.
The chief office of history [is] to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them.
— Tacitus
When monarchs through their bloodthirsty commanders lay waste a country, they dignify their atrocity by calling it making peace. - Tacitus quote.
When monarchs through their bloodthirsty commanders lay waste a country, they dignify their atrocity by calling it making peace.