What is Tacitus's view on imperial power and corruption?
My writings explore the insidious decay that power, particularly absolute imperial power, inflicts upon both rulers and the ruled. Unchecked ambition, luxury, and the constant pursuit of personal gain corrupt the highest offices. This moral rot then spreads, weakening the state from within. I observed how freedom erodes when men become subservient to the whims of a single ruler, leading to a decline in civic virtue and an increase in sycophancy and fear.