Julius Caesar Quotations

Front 1

But let not therefore my good friends be grieved-
Among which number, Cassius, be you one
Not construe any further my neglect
Than that poor Brutus, which himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

Back 1

BRUTUS
Meaning: But this shouldn't trouble my good friends- and I consider you a good friend, Cassius. Don't think anything more about my distraction that that poor Brutus, who is at war with himself, forgets to show affection to others.
Importance: Brutus must apologize to Cassius, because Cassius has realized that Brutus has not been acting like himself lately. If they are going to be in the conspiracy together, than Brutus has to make amends.

Front 2

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
He thinks to much, such men are dangerous.

Back 2

CAESAR
Meaning: That Cassius over there has a lean and hungry look. He thins too much. Men like him are dangerous.
Importance: Shows that Caesar is equally distrustful of Cassius as is Cassius of Caesar. Foreshadows a probable conflict in their future with one another.

Front 3

And after this let Caesar seat him sure,
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

Back 3

CASSIUS
Meaning: And after this, let Caesar brace himself, for we'll either dethrone him or suffer even worse than now.
Importance: Reveals Cassius' desire and plan to take down Caesar at any cost. Even if it means manipulating Brutus into joining the conspiracy.

Front 4

For I believe they are portentous things
Unto the climate that they point upon.

Back 4

CASCA
Meaning: I think these things are omens of things to come in our country.
Importance: Casca uses the odd occurrences around him in nature to predict that equally disturbing things are about to happen in Rome. This was a common belief during this time period.

Front 5

The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power

Back 5

BRUTUS
Meaning: Rulers abuse their power when they separate it from compassion.
Importance: Even though Brutus does not TRULY think Caesar is the type of man who would forget about the people, he feels it is necessary to at least try to keep Caesar from gaining too much power. He is beginning to agree with Cassius.

Front 6

And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which hatched would as his kind grow mischievous
And kill him in the shell

Back 6

BRUTUS
Meaning: And therefore we should liken him to a serpent's egg- once it has hatched, it becomes dangerous, like all serpents. Thus, we must kill him while he's still in the shell.
Importance: Brutus has finally made his decision to act on his ability to kill Caesar before he becomes dangerous and powerful. Brutus has officially changed from a friend to a conspirator.

Front 7

No, not an oath.

Back 7

BRUTUS
Meaning: No we should not have to promise one another.
Importance: Brutus and the other conspirators are meeting at his house and he has become the leader. He thinks that since they have all shown up and made the decision to partake in this conspiracy, then that is a promise enough.

Front 8

Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.

Back 8

BRUTUS
Meaning: Let's be sacrificers but not butchers, Caius.
Importance: Brutus doesn't want to kill Antony in addition to Caesar. He thinks Caesar's death is enough of a message to the people. If they kill Antony, then they seem envious.

Front 9

It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it come.

Back 9

CAESAR
Meaning: It seems most strange to me that men fear death, given that death, which can't be avoided will come whenever it wants.
Importance: Caesar is trying to convince Calpurnia that she should not fear her dream. She is trying to keep him from going to the Senate. This is also dramatic irony since the audience knows of the conspirators plan to kill Caesar and he is saying that he is not afraid of dying.

Front 10

And so near will I be
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

Back 10

TREBONIUS
Meaning: In fact, I'll be so near that your best friends will wish I'd been further away.
Importance: Trebonius delivers an aside to the audience that confirms his involvement with the conspirators just after Caesar asks to Speak with him later on in the day. This may be the opportunity for conspirators to attack Caesar.

Front 11

I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.

Back 11

PORTIA
Meaning: I have a man's mind, but only a woman's strength.
Importance: Portia is erratic now that she knows Brutus' involvement in the conspiracy to kill Caesar. She is struggling with this knowledge. It is also situational irony since she previously had mentioned that she is capable of being more that just a 'wife' to Brutus.

Front 12

You know not what you do. Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.

Back 12

CASSIUS
Meaning: You dont know what you're doing. Don't let Antony speak at his funeral.
Importance: Cassius is hesitant with allowing Antony to speak after Brutus at the funeral because he fear that the people will be moved too much by Antony's words. Brutus doesn't feel this way since he received the letters from other citizens to dislikes Caesar as well.

Front 13

Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt.

Back 13

ANTONY
Meaning: Not let is work. Trouble, you have begun- take whatever course you choose!
Importance: Antony has just finished this funeral speech and delivered the news of the contents of Caesar's will and that he has left the people money and land for public use. Knowing the emotions that he has stirred up, he is leaving it up to the trouble created in the minds of the people to go after Brutus and Cassius.

Front 14

It is no matter, his name's Cinna. Pluck
but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

Back 14

FOURTH PLEBIAN (COMMONER)
Meaning: It doesn't matter. His name is Cinna. Pull only his name out of his heart and let him go.
Importance: A group of commoners mistakes Cinna the Poet for Cinna the conspirator and brutally attacks him, which shoes the anarchy that has occurred after the funeral.

Front 15

Do not talk of him
But as a property.

Back 15

ANTONY
Meaning: Don't think about Lepidus as except as a means to an end
Importance: Antony is trying to calm Octavious concern of having Lepidus become part of their new Triumvirate. Antony only wants to use Lepidus' appeal to the people in their efforts to defeat the conspirators.

Front 16

Why comest thou?
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Phillippi.

Back 16

BRUTUS & CAESAR'S GHOST
Meaning: Brutus asks the ghost why he returned. He replies that he'll see him at the battle of Phillipii
Importance: The appearance of Caesar's ghost in this scene foreshadows that Brutus may end up actually seeing Caesar again when he too dies and loses the battle. It is also argued that Brutus' mental state has become weak since the news of Portia's death.

Front 17

O Julius Caesar, thou are mighty yet!

Back 17

BRUTUS
Meaning: Julius Caesar, you are still powerful after death. Your ghost walks the earth and turns our swords toward our own stomachs.
Importance: Brutus is suffering from guilt now that he has discovered that Cassius is dead. This is situational irony since the whole reason for killing Caesar was to stifle his power and now Brutus is still suffering from it even though he's dead.

Front 18

Caesar, now be still.
I killed not thee with half so good a will.

Back 18

BRUTUS
Meaning: Caesar, you can rest now. I didn't kill you half as willingly.
Importance: This is when Brutus decides to kill himself. In his death he realized that he deserves to die more than the reason he used to kill Caesar.