The principal office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.
The sciences throw an inexpressible grace over our compositions, even where they are not immediately concerned; as their effects are discernible where we least expect to find them.
This I regard as history’s highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity as a terror to evil words and deeds.
![Tacitus Quote - Forethought and prudence are the proper qualities of a leader. [Lat., Ratio et consilium, propriae ducis artes.]](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/forethought-and-prudence-are-the-proper-qualities--683x1024.jpg)
