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

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
Toward
Beginning
Duty
Law
Fall
Ends
Magistrates
Best
Discharge
Duties

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
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
Tacitus
Image
Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.
Tacitus
Image
Custom adapts itself to expediency.
Tacitus
Image
Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.
Tacitus
Image
Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader. [Lat., Ratio et consilium, propriae ducis artes.]
Tacitus
Image
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.
Tacitus
Image
An honorable death is better than a dishonorable life. [Lat., Honesta mors turpi vita potior.]
Tacitus
Image
Necessity reforms the poor, and satiety reforms the rich.
Tacitus
Image
The injustice of a government is proportional to the number of its laws.
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
Every recreant who proved his timidity in the hour of danger, was afterwards boldest in words and tongue.
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
Corruptisima republica plurimae leges.
Tacitus
Image
The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.
Tacitus
Image
It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.
Tacitus
Image
Traitors are hated even by those whom they prefer.
Tacitus
Image
Cassius and Brutus were the more distinguished for that very circumstance that their portraits were absent. [Lat., Praefulgebant Cassius atque Brutus eo ipso, quod effigies eorum non videbantur.]
Tacitus
Image
Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by indolence.
Tacitus