William Shakespeare 1564-1616 Julius C&aeligsar John Bartlett 1919 Familiar Quotations


1
As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 1.
2
The live-long day.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 1.
3
Beware the ides of March.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
4
Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
5
“Darest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?” Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in And bade him follow.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
6
Help me, Cassius, or I sink!
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
7
Ye gods, it doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm alone.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
8
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonourable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
9
Conjure with ’em,— Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
10
There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome As easily as a king.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.



11
Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o’ nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
12
He reads much; He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
13
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort As if he mock’d himself, and scorn’d his spirit That could be moved to smile at anything.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
14
But, for my own part, it was Greek to me.
Julius Cæsar. Act i. Sc. 2.
15
’T is a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; But when he once attains the upmost 1 round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
16
Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream: The Genius and the mortal instruments Are then in council; and the state of man, Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
17
A dish fit for the gods.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
18
But when I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
19
Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies, Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
20
With an angry wafture of your hand, Gave sign for me to leave you.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
21
You are my true and honourable wife, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops 2 That visit my sad heart.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
22
Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so father’d and so husbanded?
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 1.
23
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 2.
24
These things are beyond all use, And I do fear them.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 2.
25
When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 2.
26
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.
Julius Cæsar. Act ii. Sc. 2.
27
Cæs. The ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
28
But I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality There is no fellow in the firmament.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
29
Et tu, Brute!
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
30
How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
31
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
32
Though last, not least in love. 3
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
33
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
34
Cry “Havoc,” and let slip the dogs of war.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 1.
35
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may hear.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
36
Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
37
Who is here so base that would be a bondman?
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
38
If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
39
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
40
For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
41
When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
42
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
43
But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
44
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
45
See what a rent the envious Casca made.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
46
This was the most unkindest cut of all.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
47
Great Cæsar fell. O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, Whilst bloody treason flourish’d over us.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
48
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
49
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: I am no orator, as Brutus is; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
50
I only speak right on.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
51
Put a tongue In every wound of Cæsar that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Julius Cæsar. Act iii. Sc. 2.
52
When love begins to sicken and decay, It useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 2.
53
You yourself Are much condemn’d to have an itching palm.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
54
The foremost man of all this world.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
55
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
56
I said, an elder soldier, not a better: Did I say “better”?
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
57
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, For I am arm’d so strong in honesty That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
58
Should I have answer’d Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts: Dash him to pieces!
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
59
A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
60
All his faults observed, Set in a note-book, learn’d, and conn’d by rote.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
61
There is a tide in the affairs of men Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
62
We must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
63
The deep of night is crept upon our talk, And nature must obey necessity.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
64
Brutus. Then I shall see thee again? Ghost. Ay, at Philippi. Brutus. Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
Julius Cæsar. Act iv. Sc. 3.
65
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees, And leave them honeyless.
Julius Cæsar. Act v. Sc. 1.
66
Forever, and forever, farewell, Cassius! If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well made.
Julius Cæsar. Act v. Sc. 1.
67
O, that a man might know The end of this day’s business ere it come!
Julius Cæsar. Act v. Sc. 1.
68
The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
Julius Cæsar. Act v. Sc. 3.
69
This was the noblest Roman of them all.
Julius Cæsar. Act v. Sc. 5.
70
His life was gentle, and the elements So mix’d in him, that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, “This was a man!”
Julius Cæsar. Act v. Sc. 5.

Note 1.
”Utmost” in Singer. [back]

Note 2.
Dear as the ruddy drops that warm my heart.—Thomas Gray: The Bard, i. 3, line 12. [back]

Note 3.
Though last not least.—Edmund Spenser: Colin Clout, line 444. [back]

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