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.
Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to be wished.
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.
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 - The changeful change of circumstances. [Lat., Varia sors rerum.]](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/the-changeful-change-of-circumstances-lat-varia-so-683x1024.jpg)
![Tacitus Quote - Modest fame is not to be despised by the highest characters. [Lat., Modestiae fama neque summis mortalibus spernenda est.]](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/modest-fame-is-not-to-be-despised-by-the-highest-c-683x1024.jpg)
