Publius Cornelius Tacitus

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.

It is of eloquence as of a flame; it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it; and it brightens as it burns.

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.

It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured. -Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem læseris