Quote

Our magistrates discharge their duties best at the beginning and fall off toward the end. [Lat., Initia magistratuum nostrorum meliora, ferme finis inclinat.]

Tacitus

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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
Duties
Toward
Beginning
Duty
Law
Fall
Ends
Magistrates
Best
Discharge

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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.
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The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
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Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.
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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.]
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Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.
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A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
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The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.
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Power acquired by guilt was never used for a good purpose. [Lat., Imperium flagitio acquisitum nemo unquam bonis artibus exercuit.]
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The brave and bold persist even against fortune the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.
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That cannot be safe which is not honourable.
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When men of talents are punished, authority is strengthened. [Lat., Punitis ingeniis, gliscit auctoritas.]
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In all things there is a law of cycles.
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In all things there is a kind of law of cycles. [Lat., Rebus cunctis inest quidam velut orbis.]
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The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion.
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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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It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.
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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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Legions and fleets are not such sure bulwarks of imperial power as a numerous family
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Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
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Corruptisima republica plurimae leges.
Tacitus