Publius Cornelius Tacitus Quotes (page 2)

55–117 AD, Roman Historian
quotes
39
topics
12
Topic
“The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.”
Courage
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“Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.”
Adversity
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“We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.”
Adversity
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“To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.”
Empire
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“Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.”
Critics and Criticism
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“Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.”
Misfortunes
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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.”
Taxes and Taxation
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“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.”
Prudence
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“A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.”
Assassination
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