The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
TacitusRead
The hatred of those who are near to us is most violent.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that people we are close to can harbor intense feelings of hatred towards us.
In this quote, Tacitus reflects on the complexity of human relationships, particularly emphasizing that those who are closest to us can sometimes experience the most intense emotions, including hatred. This highlights the idea that proximity and familiarity can breed not just love and affection, but also resentment and conflict, especially when expectations or boundaries are violated. The statement serves as a reminder of the delicate balance in close relationships and the potential for deep emotional turmoil.
Themes
HatredRelationshipsEmotionsIntensityConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about familial conflicts, one might say this quote to highlight the struggles within family dynamics.
More from Tacitus
All quotes →In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.
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Great empires are not maintained by timidity.
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Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.
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So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and both errors find encouragement with posterity.
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The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.
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