Quotations about:
    political instability

There is some hope of elections, but doubtful; some suspicion of a Dictatorship, but that too not definite; peace reigns in the Forum, but it’s the peace of a senile community rather than a contented one.

[Erat non nulla spes comitiorum sed incerta, erat aliqua suspicio dictaturae, ne ea quidem certa, summum otium forense sed senescentis magis civitatis quam acquiescentis]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher

Epistulae ad Quintum fratrem [Letters to brother Quintus], Book 2, Letter 15, sec. 5 (2.15.5) (54 BC) [tr. Shackleton Bailey (1978), # 18, 2.14]
    (Source)

Describing the situation in Rome. This letter is identified by various editors and translators (besides their own ordinal numbers) as 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, and 2.15A.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

There was some expectation of the comitia, but a doubtful one: there was some suspicion of a dictatorship, but not even that was certain. There is a perfect cessation of all business in the courts of law, but more as if the state was growing indolent from age than from real tranquility.
[tr. Watson (1855), 2.15A.4]

There is some hope of the elections taking place, but it is an uncertain one. There is some latent idea of a dictatorship, but neither is that confirmed. There is profound calm in the forum, but it is rather the calm of decrepitude than content.
[tr. Shuckburgh (1900), # 140, 2.13]

Tis some hope of the elections being held, but it is a vague one; there is also some suspicion of a dictatorship, but even that has no certain foundation; the forum is profoundly tranquil, but that indicates senile decay, rather than acquiescence, on the part of the State.
[tr. Williams (Loeb) (1928), 2.15A]

We have no small hope in our elections, but it is still uncertain. There is some suspicion of a dictatorship. We have peace in public but it is the calm of an old and tired state, not one giving consent.
[tr. @sentantiq (2020), # 19]