Those whom he appeared to consider his nearest and dearest friends he would in a short time deliver up to ruin to please his wife or anyone else, although he knew well that they died only because of devotion for him; for he was untrustworthy in all things save cruelty and avarice, from which nothing could restrain him.
Whenever his wife could not persuade him to do a thing, she used to suggest that great gain was likely to result from it, and this enabled her to lead him into any course of action against his will.

He did not blush to make laws and afterwards repeal them, that he might make some infamous profit thereby.

Nor did he give judgment according to the laws which he himself had made, but in favour of the side which promised him the biggest and most splendid bribe.

He thought it no disgrace to steal away the property of his subjects, little by little, in cases where he had no grounds for taking it away all at one swoop, either by some unexpected charge or a forged will.

While he was Emperor of the Romans neither faith in God nor religion was secure, no law continued in force, no action, no contract was binding.