The voices / 49 fragments

Tacitus

54 AD — 119 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

Author and source reference ↗

▷ Play this voice Search within this voice ↗Place in time ↗courage peace nature character love truth wealth knowledge

Historical source references

Annales
Historiæ
Agricola
Business · anthology attribution: Tacitus
Flattery · anthology attribution: Tacitus
Hatred · anthology attribution: Tacitus
History · anthology attribution: Tacitus
Mob · anthology attribution: Tacitus
Prosperity · anthology attribution: Tacitus
Number 207 · printed citation: Tacitus
Number 1549 · printed citation: Tacitus
Page 35 · printed citation: Tacitus · subject: Calumny
Page 226 · printed citation: Tacitus · subject: Reputation

Archive entries

01c. 86 AD

The images of twenty of the most illustrious families—the Manlii, the Quinctii, and other names of equal splendour—were carried before it [the bier of Junia]. Those of Brutus and Cassius were not displayed; but for that very reason they shone with pre-eminent lustre.

Tacitus / quote

↗

02c. 86 AD

He had talents equal to business, and aspired no higher.

Tacitus / quote

↗

03c. 86 AD

He [Tiberius] upbraided Macro, in no obscure and indirect terms, "with forsaking the setting sun and turning to the rising."

Tacitus / quote

↗

04c. 86 AD

He possessed a peculiar talent of producing effect in whatever he said or did.

Tacitus / quote

↗

05c. 86 AD

Some might consider him as too fond of fame; for the desire of glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.

Tacitus / quote

↗

06c. 86 AD

The gods looked with favour on superior courage.

Tacitus / quote

↗

07c. 86 AD

They make solitude, which they call peace.

Tacitus / quote

↗

08c. 86 AD

Think of your ancestors and your posterity.

Tacitus / quote

↗

09c. 86 AD

It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.

Tacitus / quote

↗

10Undated

Not because of any extraordinary talents did he succeed, but because he had a capacity on a level for business and not above it.

Tacitus / quote

↗

11Undated

Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies.

Tacitus / quote

↗

12Undated

It is the nature of the human disposition to hate him whom you have injured.

Tacitus / quote

↗

13Undated

The hatred of persons related to each other is the most violent.

Tacitus / quote

↗

14Undated

This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them, and that men should feel a dread of being considered infamous in the opinions of posterity, from their depraved expressions and base actions.

Tacitus / quote

↗

15Undated

The mob have neither judgment nor principle,—ready to bawl at night for the reverse of what they desired in the morning.

Tacitus / quote

↗

16Undated

Prosperity is the touchstone of virtue; for it is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

Tacitus / quote

↗

17Undated

Prosperity tries the human heart with the deepest probe, and brings forth the hidden character.

Tacitus / quote

↗

18Undated

The love of power is an instinct of the human heart.

Tacitus / quote

↗

19Undated

Neglected calumny soon expires; show that you are hurt, and you give it the appearance of truth.

Tacitus / quote

↗

20Undated

An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.

Tacitus / quote

↗

21Undated

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.

Tacitus / quote

↗

22Undated

A bad peace is worse than war.

Tacitus / quote

↗

23Undated

Crime, once exposed, has no refuge but in audacity.

Tacitus / quote

↗

24Undated

They have plundered the world, stripping naked the land in their hunger… they are driven by greed, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor… They ravage, they slaughter, they seize by false pretenses, and all of this they hail as the construction of empire. And when in their wake nothing remains but a desert, they call that peace.

Tacitus / quote

↗

Tacitus

Archive entries

Read further

Meditations

The Republic

Tao Te Ching