Quotes by Cornelius Tacitus

“The hatred of relatives is the most violent.””

“in peace alone reason was heard and merit distinguished; but in the rage of war the blind steel spared the innocent no more than the guilty.””

“The following winter passed without disturbance, and was employed in salutary measures. For, to accustom to rest and repose through the charms of luxury a population scattered and barbarous and therefore inclined to war, Agricola gave private encouragement and public aid to the building of temples, courts of justice and dwelling-houses, praising the energetic, and reproving the indolent. Thus an honourable rivalry took the place of compulsion. He likewise provided a liberal education for the sons of the chiefs, and showed such a preference for the natural powers of the Britons over the industry of the Gauls that they who lately disdained the tongue of Rome now coveted its eloquence. Hence, too, a liking sprang up for our style of dress, and the "toga" became fashionable. Step by step they were led to things which dispose to vice, the lounge, the bath, the elegant banquet. All this in their ignorance, they called civilization, when it was but a part of their servitude.””

“[...] Popæus Sabinus [...] maximisque provinciis per quatuor et viginti annos impositus; nullam ob eximiam artem , sed quod par negotiis , neque supra erat.””

“[Asiaticus responds] Ask your sons, Suillius. They will testify to my masculinity.””

“The name Cornelius was a common one among the Romans, so that from it we can draw no inference.””

“Freiheit und andere prächtige Namen dienen als Vorwand: denn noch nie hat jemand anderer Völker Knechtung und Herrschaft für sich angestrebt, ohne gerade jene Worte zu gebrauchen.””

“Still, a good wife deserves more than half the praise, just as a badone deserves more than half the blame.- Agricola, 6””

“Ignorance is a surer protection than anyprohibition.- Germania, 26””

“...Ili da navedemo još jedan primer, koji je utoliko instruktivniji što je tu junakinja obična žena iz naroda, koja kako kaže Tacit, "Dotada nije pokazivala nimalo sklonosti za čast i pravdu (15, 51). Prišavši Pisonovoj zaveri ova je žena, po imenu Epiharida, uhapšena i bačena na muke ne bi li priznala optužbe i odala zaverenike za koje je znala. "Ali ni bičevanje, ni vatra, ni bes dželata, utoliko žešći što su se plašili da će im se podsmehnuti jedna žena, nisu slomili Epiharidu: uporno je poricala sve optužbe. Prvi dan istrage ništa nije priznala. Sutradan, dok su je nosili ponovo na mučenje, u nosiljci, jer smrskani udovi nisu mogli da drže telo, otrgne povez sa grudi, načini omču, okači je o naslon od stolice, protne glavu, obesi se svom težinom i ispusti, već slabašnu dušu. Jedna žena, jedna oslobođenica, pružila je divan primer hrabrosti, na najvećim mukama, ne bi li zaštitila tuđe, gotovo nepoznate ljude, dok su slobodni ljudi i muškarci, vitezovi i senatori rimski, još ne okusivši muka, izdavali svoje najmilije i najdraže." Ovakvih i sličnih primera puni su "Anali". I svuda gde su ljudska hrabrost i dostojanstvo odnosili moralnu pobedu nad tiranijom, nasiljem i izopačenošću, imao je Tacit budna čula da to zapazi i istakne, a njegov pesnički talenat davao je ovim scenama tragičku uzvišenost.””