1st-century Historian Quotes

Tacitus

Flavius Josephus

Suetonius

Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.

Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of is nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his righteousness, and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the greatest city we have.

Flavius Josephus

Now, that the sovereign power and deity, whatsoever it is, should have regard of mankind, is a toy and vanity worthy to be laughed at.

Pliny the Elder

Once a woman declared that she was desperately in love with him, and he took her to bed with him. "How shall I enter that item in your expense ledger?" asked his accountant later, on learning that she had got 4,000 gold pieces out of him; and Vespasian replied, "Just put it down to 'passion for Vespasian'".

Each year new consuls and proconsuls are made; but not every year is a king or a poet born.