Is Tacitus accused of being overly pessimistic about Rome?
Some may perceive my accounts as colored by a deep melancholy, given the numerous examples of depravity and decline I have documented. However, I do not believe this is pessimism, but rather a clear-eyed assessment of human nature when confronted with absolute power. My aim was not to despair, but to provide a stark warning. By recounting these harsh realities, I hoped to offer lessons from the past, urging future generations to be vigilant against the erosion of liberty and virtue.