Tacitus

Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.

It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.

In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.

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.

A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.

An eminent reputation is as dangerous as a bad one.

Following Emporer Nero's command, "Let the Christians be exterminated!:" . . . they [the Christians] were made the subjects of sport; they were covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights.

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

One who is allowed to sin, sins less

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.

No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.

Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.

Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.

Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.

To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it.

When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.

The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms, armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes

Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to be wished.

Even for learned men, love of fame is the last thing to be given up.

The desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise.