Tacitus quotes

Tacitus was a Roman historian and senator, renowned for his critical accounts of the Roman Empire. His major works, including the "Annals" and the "Histories," provide invaluable insights into the politics and society of his time. He is considered one of the greatest classical historians for his analytical style and keen observations. Here are 90 of his quotes:

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

Tacitus

It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.

Tacitus

To plunder, butcher, steal, these things they misname empire: they make a desolation and they call it peace.

Tacitus

Traitors are hated even by those whom they prefer.

Tacitus

They make a desert and call it peace.

Tacitus

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

Tacitus

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

Tacitus

Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions.

Tacitus

The Germans themselves I should regard as aboriginal, and not mixed at all with other races through immigration or intercourse. For in former times, it was not by land but on shipboard that those who sought to emigrate would arrive; and the boundless and, so to speak, hostile ocean beyond us, is seldom entered by a sail from our world.

Tacitus

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

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.

Tacitus

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.

Tacitus

So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most precarious hearsays, others turn facts into falsehood; and both are exaggerated by posterity.

Tacitus

Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.

Tacitus

To abandon your shield is the basest of crimes; nor may a man thus disgraced be present at the sacred rites, or enter their council; many, indeed, after escaping from battle, have ended their infamy with the halter.

Tacitus

No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted.

Tacitus

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

Tacitus

Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.

Tacitus

The gods are on the side of the stronger.

Tacitus

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

Tacitus

Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.

Tacitus

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

Tacitus