Julius Caesar Famous Quotes

Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.

Caesar's last words in Act 3, Scene 1, as the conspirators stab him — his final shock is not the blades but Brutus among them. The Latin 'Et tu' means 'And you too.'

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

Antony's opening to the crowd in Act 3, Scene 2 — he claims to come only to bury Caesar, then spends the entire speech reversing everything Brutus said.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Cassius to Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2, arguing that men make their own fate rather than being ruled by the stars — the persuasion that starts Brutus down the path to murder.

Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.

Caesar dismissing his wife Calpurnia's fears in Act 2, Scene 2, refusing to stay home despite her dreams of his murder. His bravado is about to cost him everything.

I am constant as the northern star.

Caesar refusing Metellus Cimber's petition in Act 3, Scene 1, seconds before the knives come out — his pride in his own constancy is the last thing he says before being stabbed.

Beware the ides of March.

A soothsayer's warning to Caesar in Act 1, Scene 2, which Caesar dismisses as the words of a dreamer. The ides of March — the 15th — is the date of his assassination.

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

Caesar sizing up Cassius to Antony in Act 1, Scene 2 — his instincts about Cassius are entirely right, and he ignores them anyway.

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs.

Cassius describing Caesar's dominance to Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2, trying to stoke resentment — the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, a statue straddling a harbour entrance.

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.

Brutus explaining himself to the Roman crowd in Act 3, Scene 2, before Antony speaks — his logic is genuine, which makes his downfall more painful rather than less.

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.

Antony quoting Brutus's accusation that Caesar was ambitious, then calmly dismantling it in Act 3, Scene 2 — three words that flip the crowd's sympathies without appearing to try.

They are all honourable men.

Antony's repeated refrain in the funeral speech in Act 3, Scene 2 — each repetition of 'honourable men' makes the word mean its opposite a little more than the time before.

This was the most unkindest cut of all.

Antony holding Caesar's blood-soaked toga before the crowd in Act 3, Scene 2, identifying the tear made by Brutus's knife — the double superlative ('most unkindest') is deliberate, pushing past normal grammar to show the extremity of the betrayal.

This was the noblest Roman of them all.

Antony over Brutus's body in Act 5, Scene 5 — his enemy is dead, and Antony's verdict is generous: Brutus alone acted out of principle rather than personal gain.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

Brutus arguing to Cassius in Act 4, Scene 3 that they must march on Philippi immediately rather than wait — he is wrong about the tactics, and his tide metaphor is a speech act of confidence he does not quite feel.

Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war.

Antony alone with Caesar's corpse in Act 3, Scene 1, promising the dead man that war will follow — 'Havoc' was a battlefield signal ordering soldiers to kill without quarter, and no prisoners were to be taken.