Tacitus

He had a certain frankness and generosity, qualities indeed which turn to a man's ruin, unless tempered with discretion.

I am my nearest neighbour.

In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.

It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.

Keen at the start, but careless at the end.

No hatred is so bitter as that of near relations.

That cannot be safe which is not honourable.

There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive.

It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.

A bad peace is even worse than war.

A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.

Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

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.

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

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.

Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.

Custom adapts itself to expediency.

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.

Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

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.

In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.

It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.

It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

It is only necessary to make war with five things: with the maladies of the body, with the ignorances of the mind, with the passions of the body, with the seditions of the city, with the discords of families.

Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.

Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.

No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.

Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.

Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.

Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

The Romans brought devestation, but they called it peace.

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.

To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.

Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
Tacitus

Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.
Tacitus

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

When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
Tacitus

When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
Tacitus

When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.