The Philosopher
Tacitus
The face
The background
- Nationality:
- Roman
- Period:
- Silver Age of Latin
The synopsis
Publius Cornelius Tacitus, commonly known as Tacitus, was a prominent Roman historian and politician who lived from approximately AD 56 to AD 120. He is widely regarded by modern scholars as one of the greatest Roman historians. His most significant works are the *Annals* and the *Histories*, which together were intended to provide a continuous narrative of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in AD 14 to the end of Domitian's reign in AD 96. The surviving portions of the *Annals* cover the reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, and the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors. Tacitus's other writings include *De vita Iulii Agricolae* (The Life of Agricola), a biography of his father-in-law, the general Gnaeus Julius Agricola; *De origine et situ Germanorum* (Germania), an ethnographic study of the Germanic tribes; and the *Dialogus de oratoribus* (Dialogue on Oratory), a work discussing the art of rhetoric. Details about Tacitus's personal life are scarce, gleaned from his own writings and correspondence from his friend Pliny the Younger. He was born into an equestrian family and studied rhetoric, likely under Quintilian. He married Julia Agricola, daughter of the famous general. Tacitus embarked on a political career, serving as quaestor, praetor, and eventually suffect consul in AD 97. His career spanned the reigns of emperors from Vespasian to Trajan, and he experienced the oppressive rule of Domitian, which deeply influenced his critical perspective on tyranny and corruption. His prose is noted for its conciseness, depth, and often pessimistic insights into the psychology of power and the moral decline of Roman elites. He is credited with providing one of the earliest extra-Biblical references to Jesus Christ in his *Annals*.
The works
De vita Iulii Agricolae
De origine et situ Germanorum
Dialogus de oratoribus
Historiae
Ab excessu divi Augusti (Annals)
The quotes
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.
He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again.
When the state is most corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.
Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.
No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.
Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.
It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.
Custom adapts itself to expediency.
To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.
Things forbidden have a secret charm.
When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.
It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.
Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.
A bad peace is even worse than war.
Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.
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.
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.
Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
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.
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
It is always easier to requite an injury than a service: gratitude is a burden, but revenge is found to pay.