Tacitus: Good

Tacitus was Roman senator and historian. Explore interesting quotes on good.

Tacitus: 84 quotes51 likes

“Dwelling on one side of the Chauci and Chatti, the Cherusci long cherished, unassailed, an excessive and enervating love of peace. This was more pleasant than safe, for to be peaceful is self-deception among lawless and powerful neighbours. Where the strong hand decides, moderation and justice are terms applied only to the more powerful; and so the Cherusci, ever reputed good and just, are now called cowards and fools, while in the case of the victorious Chatti success has been identified with prudence. The downfall of the Cherusci brought with it also that of the Fosi, a neighbouring tribe, which shared equally in their disasters, though they had been inferior to them in prosperous days.”

Tacitus book Germania

Source: Germania (98), Chapter 36

“Indeed, when a ruler once becomes unpopular, all his acts, be they good or bad, tell against him.”

Tacitus book Histories

Book I, 7
Histories (100-110)

“Good habits are here more effectual than good laws elsewhere.”
…ibi boni mores valent quam alibi bonae leges. [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/tacitus-germ-latin.html#19]

Tacitus book Germania

End of chapter 19, http://www.unrv.com/tacitus/tacitus-germania-5.php <br class="br">Germania (98)

“Every great example of punishment has in it some injustice, but the suffering individual is compensated by the public good.”
Habet aliquid ex iniquo omne magnum exemplum, quod contra singulos, utilitate publica rependitus.

Tacitus book Annals

Book XIV, 44
Annals (117)