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A bitter jest, when it comes too near the truth, leaves a sharp sting behind it.

Tacitus

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Tacitus
Annalist
Biographer
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Jurist
Military Personnel
Philosopher
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Politician
Gallia Bracata
Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Gaius Cornelius Tacitus
P. Cornelius Tacitus
C. Cornelius Tacitus
Cornelius Tacitus
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The sciences throw an inexpressible grace over our compositions, even where they are not immediately concerned as their effects are discernible where we least expect to find them.
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In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
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You might believe a good man easily, a great man with pleasure. -Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter
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War will of itself discover and lay open the hidden and rankling wounds of the victorious party.
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Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.
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Falsehood avails itself of haste and uncertainty.
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If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger. [Lat., Si cadere necesse est, occurendum discrimini.]
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Tacitus has written an entire work on the manners of the Germans. This work is short, but it comes from the pen of Tacitus, who was always concise, because he saw everything at a glance.
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In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.
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Adversity deprives us of our judgment.
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Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by indolence.
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Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.
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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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Rulers always hate and suspect the next in succession. [Lat., Suspectum semper invisumque dominantibus qui proximus destinaretur.]
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Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.
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Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.
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So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and both errors find encouragement with posterity.
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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.
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Perdomita Britannia et statim omissa. Britain was conquered and immediately lost.
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We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
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