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
Beginning
Duty
Law
Fall
Ends
Magistrates
Best
Discharge
Duties
Toward

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The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms, armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes
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It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
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We accomplish more by prudence than by force. [Lat., Plura consilio quam vi perficimus.]
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In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.
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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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Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.
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All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
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Deos fortioribus adesse. The gods support those who are stronger.
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If you would know who controls you see who you may not criticise.
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Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful.
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Eloquence wins its great and enduring fame quite as much from the benches of our opponents as from those of our friends.
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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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In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
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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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No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
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The wicked find it easier to coalesce for seditious purposes than for concord in peace.
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Bottling up his malice to be suppressed and brought out with increased violence.
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They make solitude, which they call peace.
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The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.
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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.
Tacitus