Significant & Memorable Quotes from Julius Caesar

“You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O, you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, knew you not Pompey?” (1.1.37-39)

Marullus

“Beware the ides of March” (1.2.23)

Soothsayer

“Set honour in one eye and death i'th’ other and I will look upon both indifferently.” (1.2.86)

Brutus

“For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death.” (1.2.88-89)

Brutus

“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men…dishonorable graves.” (1.2.135-138)

Cassius

“Men at some time are masters of their own fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings.” (1.2.139-141)

Cassius

“Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he has become so great?” (1.2.149-150)

Cassius

“What you would work me to do, I have some aim. How I have thought of this and these times, I shall recount hereafter.” (1.2.163-165)

Brutus

“What you have said, I will consider; what you have to say I will with patience hear and find a time both meet to hear and answer such high things.” (1.2.167-170)

Brutus

“Let me have men about me that are fat… Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look, He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.” (1.2.192-195)

Caesar

“I rather tell thee what is to be fear’d than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.” (1.2.211-212)

Caesar

“But those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but for mine own part it was Greek to me.” (1.2.280-281)

Casca

“Men may construe things after their fashion clean from the purpose of the things themselves.” (1.3.34-35)

Cicero

“I know where I will wear this dagger then: Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.” (1.3.89-90)

Cassius

“And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf but that he sees the Romans are but sheep.” (1.3.103-105)

Cassius

“But, O grief, where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this before a willing bondman.” (1.3.112-114)

Cassius

“What a fearful night is this! There’s two or three of us have seen strange sights.” (1.3.137-138)

Casca

“Oh he sits high in all the people’s hearts, and that which would appear offense in us–his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and to worthiness.” (1.3.157-160)

Casca (about Brutus)

“O Rome, I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus.” (2.1.56-58)

Brutus

“Between the acting of a dreadful thing and the first motion, all the interim is like a phantasma, or a hideous dream.” (2.1.63-65)

Brutus

“Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.” (2.1.172-174)

Brutus

“If he be so resolved, I can o’ersway him… and men with flatterers.” (2.1.202-208)

Decius

“Is it excepted I should know no secrets… Portia is Brutus’ harlot, not his wife.” (2.1.279-287)

Portia

“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.” (2.2.32-35)

Caesar

 “Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he; we are two lions littered in one day, And I the elder and more terrible.” (2.2.44-48)

Caesar

 “This dream is all amiss interpreted… great Rome shall suck reviving blood.” (2.2.83-87)

Decius

“Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me, and we, like friends, will straightway go together.” (2.2.126-127)

Caesar

“I am constant as the northern star… every one doth shine…” (3.1.60-64)

Caesar

“Et tu, Brute?” (3.1.85 — depending on edition)

Caesar

“Fates, we will know your pleasures. That we shall die, we know; ‘tis but the time and drawing days out, that men should stand upon. 

Brutus

“A word with you. You know not what you do. Do not consent that Antony speak in his funeral.”

Cassius

“Domestic fury and fierce civil strive shal cumber all the parts of Italy; blood and destruction shall be so in use and dreadful objects so familiar that mothers shall but smile when they behold their infants quarter’d with the hands of war.”

Antony

“Cassius, go you into the other street and part the numbers. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay here; those that will follow Cassius, go with him, and public reasons shall be rendered of Caesar’s death.” 

Brutus

“Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear for my cause…” (3.2.13-14)

brutus

“Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (3.2.21-22)

Brutus

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…” (3.2.73 — depending on edition)

Antony

“This was the most unkindest cut of all…” (3.2.181-184)

Antony

“I will not do them wrong; I rather choose to wrong the dead, to wrong myself, and you, than I will wrong such honorable men. But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar. I found it in his closet, ‘tis his will.”

Antony

“Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny…” (3.2.207-209)

Antony

“Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, take thou what course thou wilt.” 

Antony

“To answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly, wisely I say I am a bachelor.”

Cinna the Poet

“That’s as much to say as they are fools that marry. You’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear.” (3.3.14-18)

Second Plebeian

“This is a slight, unmeritable man, meet to be sent on errands.” (4.1.12)

Antony

“Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.”

Blank replies, “Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies?” (4.2. 36-37)

1.Cassius and 2.Brutus

“I, an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speaks this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else you last” (4.3.12-14)

cassius

“I had rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a Roman.” (4.3.7-28)

brutus

“I am sick of many griefs. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.” 

Brutus

“How scap’d I killing when I crossed you so? O insupportable and touching loss!” (4.3.150-151)

Cassius

“This was an ill beginning of the night. Never come such division ‘tween our souls!” (4.3.234-235)

Cassius

“Why do you cross me in this exigent?”

Antony

 “I do not cross you, but I will do so.” (5.1.18-19)

Octavius

“Thou canst not die by traitors’ hands unless thou bring’st them with thee.” (5.1.56-57)

Brutus

“If you dare fight today, come to the field. If not, when you have stomachs.” (5.1.65-66)

Octavius

“Think not, noble Roman, that ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; he bears too great a mind. But this same day must end that work the Ides of March begun. And whether we shall meet again, I know not, therefore our everlasting farewell take.” 

Brutus

“Come now, keep this oath. Now be a freeman, and with this good sword that ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom. Stand not to answer; here, take though the hilt, and when my face is cover’d as ‘tis now, guide thou the sword. Caesar, thou art reveng’d even with the sword that killed thee.”

Cassius

“I owe mo’ tears to this dead man than you shall see me pay. I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.” (5.3.101-103)

Brutus

“My heart doth joy that yet in all my life I found no man but he that was true to me. I shall have glory by this losing day.” (5.5.34-35)

Brutus

“Thou art a fellow of good respect, thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it. Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, while I do run upon it. Wilt thou?” 

Brutus

“This was the most noblest Roman of them all: all the conspirators, save only he, did that they did in envy of Great Caesar.” (5.5.68-70)

Antony

“So call the field to rest, and let’s away, to part the glories of this happy day.” (5.5.80-81–the last lines in the entire play!)

Octavius