Cornelius Tacitus

Cornelius Tacitus (c.54 – c.120), full name Publius Cornelius Tacitus or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, was a Roman historian, born presumably at Rome, of equestrian rank, early famous as an orator. He married a daughter of Agricola, held office under the Emperors Vespasian, Domitian, and Nerva, and conducted along with Pliny the younger the prosecution of Marius Priscus. He is best known and most celebrated as a historian, and of writings extant the chief are his "Life of Agricola," his "Germania," his "Histories" and his "Annals". His "Agricola" is admired as a model biography, while his "Histories" and "Annales" are distinguished for "their conciseness, their vigour, and the pregnancy of meaning; a single word sometimes gives effect to a whole sentence, and if the meaning of the word is missed, the sense of the writer is not reached". His great power lies in his insight into character and the construing of motives, but the picture he draws of imperial Rome is revolting.

Wisdom & Quotes

• The Gods are on the side of the stronger.

- Histories

• It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.

– Histories

• Indeed, when a ruler once becomes unpopular, all his acts, be they good or bad, tell against him.

– Histories

• Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.

– Histories

• The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.

– Histories

• There will be vices as long as there are men.

– Histories

• Rumour is not always wrong.

- Life of Agricola

• It is human to hate those whom we have injured.

- Life of Agricola

• Because they didn't know better, they called it "civilization," when it was part of their slavery.

– Agricola

• To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire, and where they make a desert, they call it peace.

– Agricola

• No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted.

– Germania

• Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.

– Germania

• So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most precarious hearsays, others turn facts into falsehood; and both are exaggerated by posterity.

– Annals

• The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government.

– Annals

• For I deem it to be the chief function of history to rescue merit from oblivion, and to hold up before evil words and evil deeds the terror of the reprobation of posterity.

– Annals

• A woman after having parted with her virtue will hesitate at nothing.

– Annals

• To every man posterity gives his due honour.

– Annals

• When men of talents are punished, authority is strengthened.

– Annals

• What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent.

– Annals

• Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.

– Annals

• Great empires are not maintained by timidity.

– Annals

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

– Annals

• Lust of absolute power is more burning than all the passions.

– Annals

Petronius

Nearby pages
Cornelius Tromp, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Cornell University, Corners, Cornwall