Quotes from Tacitus

Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

All bodies are slow in growth but rapid in decay.

Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.

Posterity gives every man his true value.

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

They make a wilderness and call it peace.

Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by indolence.

The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off.

The love of fame is a love that even the wisest of men are reluctant to forgo.

Posterity gives to every man his true honor. [Lat., Suum cuique decus posteritas rependet.]

Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.

When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.

A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin.

We extol ancient things, regardless of our own times. [Lat., Vetera extollimus recentium incuriosi.]

Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.