A List of Famous Tacitus Quotes By Reference

A list of quotes from Tacitus. Here are the best Tacitus quotes on various subjects. The Tacitus quotations list is alphabetical but can be sorted by any column. Enjoy these sayings coined by Tacitus. Use this factual list to make a whole new one just like it, then re-rank it to fit your opinion.

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1

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

Tacitus

Assassination
2

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

Tacitus

Critics and Criticism
3

All bodies are slow in growth but rapid in decay.

Tacitus

Health
4

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.

Tacitus

Prudence
5

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

Tacitus

Cities and City Life
6

As for myself, may the sweet Muses, as Virgil says, bear me away to their holy places where sacred streams do flow, beyond the reach of anxiety and care, and free from the obligation of performing each day some task that goes against the grain. May I no longer have anything to do with the mad racket and the hazards of the forum, or tremble as I try a fall with white-faced Fame. I do not want to be roused from sleep by the clatter of morning callers or by some breathless messenger from the palace; I do not care, in drawing my will, to give a money-pledge for its safe execution through anxiety as to what is to happen afterwards; I wish for no larger estate than I can leave to the heir of my own free choice. Some day or other the last hour will strike also for me, and my prayer is that my effigy may be set up beside my grave, not grim and scowling, but all smiles and garlands, and that no one shall seek to honour my memory either by a motion in the senate or by a petition to the Emperor.

Tacitus

Uncategorised
7

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

Tacitus

Moderation
8

Custom adapts itself to expediency.

Tacitus

Expediency
9

Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.

Tacitus

Fear
10

Forbidden things have a secret charm.

Tacitus

Scarcity
11

Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

Tacitus

Absence
12

If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.

Tacitus

Courage
13

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

Tacitus

Law and Lawyers
14

In all things there is a law of cycles.

Tacitus

Cycles
15

It is a weakness of your human nature to hate those whom you have wronged.

Tacitus

Hatred
16

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

Tacitus

Misfortunes
17

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

Tacitus

Adversity
18

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

Tacitus

Leaders and Leadership
19

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

Tacitus

Character
20

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

Tacitus

Age and Aging
21

Posterity gives every man his true value.

Tacitus

Posterity
22

Posterity will pay everyone their due.

Tacitus

Past
23

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

Tacitus

Misfortunes
24

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

Tacitus

Leaders and Leadership
25

Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.

Tacitus

Guilt
26

So, as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.

Tacitus

Soldier
27

The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.

Tacitus

Courage
28

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

Tacitus

Security
29

The hatred of relatives is the most violent.

Tacitus

Family
30

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

Tacitus

Fame
31

The more corrupt the state, the more laws.

Tacitus

Law and Lawyers
32

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

Tacitus

Taxes and Taxation
33

They make a wilderness and call it peace.

Tacitus

Peace
34

Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.

Tacitus

Opinions
35

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

Tacitus

Charm
36

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

Tacitus

Inheritance
37

To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.

Tacitus

Empire
38

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.

Tacitus

Courage
39

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

Tacitus

Adversity
40

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

Tacitus

Modesty

Showing items 1 - 25 of 40

A List of Famous Tacitus Quotes you can use this list to help make your own ranked list about this topic

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 bodies are slow in growth but rapid in decay.

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.

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

Custom adapts itself to expediency.

Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.

Forbidden things have a secret charm.

Greater things are believed of those who are absent.

If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.

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

In all things there is a law of cycles.

It is a weakness of your human nature to hate those whom you have wronged.

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

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.

Posterity gives every man his true value.

Posterity will pay everyone their due.

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.

Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.

So, as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.

The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.

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

The hatred of relatives is the most violent.

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

The more corrupt the state, the more laws.

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

They make a wilderness and call it peace.

Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.

Things forbidden have a secret charm.

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

To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.

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

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