Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jayrok · 11-29-2008, 11:40 AM

Richard Carrier uses a quote from Tacitus in his 2006 paper, Was Christianity Too Improbable to Be False?

Link to Paper

This from section 7.1:

That everything gets exaggerated is typical for any story.... All the greatest events are obscure--while some people accept whatever they hear as beyond doubt, others twist the truth into its opposite, and both errors grow over subsequent generations. -- Tacitus

Where is this quote found from Tacitus? Annals? Histories?

Thanks in advance.

andrewcriddle · 11-29-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayrok

Richard Carrier uses a quote from Tacitus in his 2006 paper, Was Christianity Too Improbable to Be False?

Link to Paper

This from section 7.1:

That everything gets exaggerated is typical for any story.... All the greatest events are obscure--while some people accept whatever they hear as beyond doubt, others twist the truth into its opposite, and both errors grow over subsequent generations. -- Tacitus

Where is this quote found from Tacitus? Annals? Histories?

Thanks in advance.

IIUC It combines 2 passages from Annals Book 3 section 44

Quote:

anything in fact was believed, with rumour's usual exaggeration.

and section 19

Quote:

So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and both errors find encouragement with posterity.

Andrew Criddle

Jayrok · 11-29-2008, 02:08 PM

Thank you, Andrew. I was searching for this quote in its entirety. I see how he combined them now.

11-29-2008, 11:40 AM	#1
Jayrok Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 471	Tacitus Quote Richard Carrier uses a quote from Tacitus in his 2006 paper, Was Christianity Too Improbable to Be False? Link to Paper This from section 7.1: That everything gets exaggerated is typical for any story.... All the greatest events are obscure--while some people accept whatever they hear as beyond doubt, others twist the truth into its opposite, and both errors grow over subsequent generations. -- Tacitus Where is this quote found from Tacitus? Annals? Histories? Thanks in advance.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-29-2008, 02:08 PM	#3
Jayrok Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 471	Thank you, Andrew. I was searching for this quote in its entirety. I see how he combined them now.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.