Quote

In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.

Tacitus

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Tacitus
Annalist
Biographer
Historian
Jurist
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Poet
Politician
Gallia Bracata
Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Gaius Cornelius Tacitus
P. Cornelius Tacitus
C. Cornelius Tacitus
Cornelius Tacitus
Enterprise
Downfall
Aim
Utter
Ambition
Empire
Private
Alternative
Highest
Empires
Success
Advance
May
Whereas
Recede
Men
Alternatives
Enterprises

More quotes by Tacitus

Image
The grove is the centre of their whole religion. It is regarded as the cradle of the race and the dwelling-place of the supreme god to whom all things are subject and obedient.
Tacitus
Image
Legions and fleets are not such sure bulwarks of imperial power as a numerous family
Tacitus
Image
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.
Tacitus
Image
The unknown always passes for the marvellous.
Tacitus
Image
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges.
Tacitus
Image
War will of itself discover and lay open the hidden and rankling wounds of the victorious party.
Tacitus
Image
Benefits are acceptable, while the receiver thinks he may return them but once exceeding that, hatred is given instead of thanks. [Lat., Beneficia usque eo laeta sunt dum videntur exsolvi posse ubi multum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur.]
Tacitus
Image
They terrify lest they should fear.
Tacitus
Image
Rulers always hate and suspect the next in succession. [Lat., Suspectum semper invisumque dominantibus qui proximus destinaretur.]
Tacitus
Image
In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.
Tacitus
Image
It is of eloquence as of a flame it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it and it brightens as it burns.
Tacitus
Image
In careless ignorance they think it civilization, when in reality it is a portion of their slavery...To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false pretenses, they call empire and where they make a desert, they call it peace.
Tacitus
Image
Even honor and virtue make enemies, condemning, as they do, their opposites by too close a contrast.
Tacitus
Image
Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by indolence.
Tacitus
Image
You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure. -Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter
Tacitus
Image
Rumor is not always wrong
Tacitus
Image
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.]
Tacitus
Image
It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.
Tacitus
Image
In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.
Tacitus
Image
Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful.
Tacitus