Tacitus Quotes To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace. ― Tacitus The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise. ― Tacitus Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader. ― Tacitus It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured. ― Tacitus 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. ― Tacitus 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. ― Tacitus A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man. ― Tacitus A bad peace is even worse than war. ― Tacitus