Tacitus Quotes - Page 7

Perdomita Britannia et statim omissa. Britain was conquered and immediately lost.

Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

The love of fame is the last weakness which even the wise resign.

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

The grove is the centre of their whole religion. It is regarded as the cradle of the race and the dwelling-place of the supreme god to whom all things are subject and obedient.

All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.

Benefits are acceptable, while the receiver thinks he may return them; but once exceeding that, hatred is given instead of thanks. [Lat., Beneficia usque eo laeta sunt dum videntur exsolvi posse; ubi multum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur.]

Legions and fleets are not such sure bulwarks of imperial power as a numerous family

It is not becoming to grieve immoderately for the dead.

We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.

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

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

Power is more safely retained by cautious than by severe councils. [Lat., Potentiam cautis quam acribus consiliis tutius haberi.]

Miseram pacem vel bello bene mutari. Even war is preferable to a shameful peace.

The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms, armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes

It is the nature of the human disposition to hate him whom you have injured.

By general consent, he would have been capable of ruling, had he not ruled.

The sciences throw an inexpressible grace over our compositions, even where they are not immediately concerned; as their effects are discernible where we least expect to find them.

Liberty is given by nature even to mute animals.

Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to be wished.

The love of dominion is the most engrossing passion.

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

Even for learned men, love of fame is the last thing to be given up.

Posterity allows to every man his true value and proper honours.

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