Tacitus Quotes, Sayings, Remarks, Thoughts and Speeches
Tacitus Quotes and Sayings
- 1
A bad peace is even worse than war.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 2
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 3
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
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- 4
Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 5
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.
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- 6
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
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- 7
Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.
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- 8
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 9
Custom adapts itself to expediency.
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- 10
Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth; when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 11
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
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- 12
He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again.
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- 13
In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
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- 14
It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 15
It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 16
It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
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- 17
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
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- 18
Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 19
No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 20
Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 21
Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 22
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 23
Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.
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- 24
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
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- 25
The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 26
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
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- 27
Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 28
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
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- 29
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 30
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 31
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.
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- 32
Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.
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- 33
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 34
When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 35
When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
- 36
When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.
Tacitus | Refcard PDF ↑
