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This I regard as history's highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity as a terror to evil words and deeds.

Tacitus

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Tacitus
Annalist
Biographer
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Jurist
Military Personnel
Philosopher
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Gallia Bracata
Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Gaius Cornelius Tacitus
P. Cornelius Tacitus
C. Cornelius Tacitus
Cornelius Tacitus
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More quotes by Tacitus

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Posterity gives to every man his true honor. [Lat., Suum cuique decus posteritas rependet.]
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Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader. [Lat., Ratio et consilium, propriae ducis artes.]
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Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.
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The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion.
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In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
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All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
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Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them when that possibility is far exceeded, they are repaid with hatred instead of gratitude.
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Legions and fleets are not such sure bulwarks of imperial power as a numerous family
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In all things there is a law of cycles.
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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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Even for learned men, love of fame is the last thing to be given up.
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In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.
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Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
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Style, like the human body, is specially beautiful when, so to say, the veins are not prominent, and the bones cannot be counted, but when a healthy and sound blood fills the limbs, and shows itself in the muscles, and the very sinews become beautiful under a ruddy glow and graceful outline.
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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.
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Yet the age was not so utterly destitute of virtues but that it produced some good examples. [Lat., Non tamen adeo virtutum sterile seculum, ut non et bona exempla prodiderit.]
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There was more courage in bearing trouble than in escaping from it the brave and the energetic cling to hope, even in spite of fortune the cowardly and the indolent are hurried by their fears,' said Plotius Firmus, Roman Praetorian Guard.
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The powerful hold in deep remembrance an ill-timed pleasantry. [Lat., Facetiarum apud praepotentes in longum memoria est.]
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An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]
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Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.
Tacitus