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Capax imperii nisi imperasset
Latin quote written by Tacitus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Capax imperii nisi imperasset is a Latin phrase written by Tacitus in Chapter 1.49 of his Histories.
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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]