Galba

Capax imperii nisi imperasset is a Latin phrase written by Tacitus in Chapter 1.49 of his Histories.

Upon the death of Galba, Tacitus discusses Galba's life and character and ends Chapter 49 with this sentence: Maior privato visus dum privatus fuit, et omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperasset ("He seemed too great to be a citizen so long as he was a citizen and all would have agreed that he was worthy to the imperial office, if he had never held it").[1]

It has been said that the phrase is used by Tacitus to sum up Galba's character, as one who seemed to hold all the values of a good leader but failed when he became leader.[2] In modern times, the phrase has been used to describe leaders who have failed to live up to their expectations.[3] Jeremy Paxman has quoted the phrase to describe Boris Johnson becoming prime minister,[4] and it has also been used to describe Gordon Brown.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tacitus Histories 1.49 Latin text in the Perseus Project
  2. ^ Pigoń, Jakub (1990). "THE EMPEROR GALBA AND THE FOUR VIRTUES: A Note on Tac. Hist. 1,49,3—4". Rheinisches Museum für Philologie. 133 (3/4): 370–374. JSTOR 41233784.
  3. ^ "Divisive Brexit vote has unleashed something very ugly | Brief letters". July 7, 2017 – via www.theguardian.com.
  4. ^ Kidd, Patrick. "Paxman's risk assessment" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  5. ^ Howse, Christopher (October 21, 2008). "Poetry - and pain - of the perfect put-down" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
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