A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin

A man in power, once becoming obnoxious, his acts, good or bad, will work out his ruin

In the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, the concept of a man in power becoming obnoxious and ultimately meeting his downfall is a recurring theme. Tacitus believed that power had the ability to corrupt even the most virtuous of men, leading them to commit acts that would ultimately lead to their ruin.

One of the most famous examples of this concept in Tacitus' works is the story of the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero started his reign as a popular and well-liked ruler, but as time went on, he became increasingly tyrannical and cruel. He was known for his extravagant spending, his persecution of Christians, and his brutal treatment of his political enemies. Eventually, Nero's actions caught up with him, and he was overthrown and forced to commit suicide.

Tacitus believed that Nero's downfall was a direct result of his obnoxious behavior and his abuse of power. He saw Nero's actions as a betrayal of the trust that had been placed in him by the Roman people, and he believed that this betrayal ultimately led to his ruin.