The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.

Tacitus is observing that the craving for fame or public renown is unusually persistent—even among people of genuine virtue. Other appetites (wealth, pleasure, power) may fade with age, experience, or moral discipline, but the wish to be remembered and honored can survive longer because it disguises itself as something noble: service, achievement, or “deserving” recognition. In Tacitus’s moral-historical outlook, this is both a psychological insight and a warning. Glory can motivate admirable deeds, yet it also tempts the “best men” toward vanity, rivalry, and self-justification, especially in political life where reputation is currency.