The word liberty has been falsely used by persons who, being degenerately profligate in private life, and mischievous in public, had no hope left but in fomenting discord.
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.
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.
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.
![Tacitus Quote - Bodies are slow of growth, but are rapid in their dissolution. [Lat., Corpora lente augescent, cito extinguuntur.]](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/bodies-are-slow-of-growth-but-are-rapid-in-their-d-683x1024.jpg)
![Tacitus Quote - None grieve so ostentatiously as those who rejoice most in heart. [Lat., Nulla jactantius moerent quam qui maxime laetantur.]](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/none-grieve-so-ostentatiously-as-those-who-rejoice-683x1024.jpg)
