Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Quotes

Julius Caesar

Quote 10

CAESAR
Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it
And these does she apply for warnings and portents,
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today. (2.2.80-87)

When Calphurnia dreams of Caesar's body spurting blood like a fountain, she correctly interprets it to mean that something bad is going to happen to Caesar and warns her husband to stay home that day.  At first, it seems like Caesar is going to heed his wife's warning (even though he doesn't want people to think he's staying at home because he's afraid).  But Calphurnia's attempts to protect her husband are completely undermined when Decius shows up.  Keep reading... 

Julius Caesar

Quote 11

CAESAR
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go. (2.2.110-112)

In the last passage we saw Decius warn Caesar that he would be seen as weak if he listened to the advice of a woman.  Here Caesar completely disregards Calphurnia's interpretation of her ominous dream in favor of what Decius has to say.  Of course, it turns out that Calphurnia was right all along – Caesar gets stabbed in the guts 33 times and his assassins wash their hands in his blood.  So even though Caesar and the other characters don't put much stock in what women have to say, it seems pretty clear that Calphurnia isn't so dumb after all.  In fact, it also seems like things would have turned out differently if the play's female characters hadn't been ignored.  

Julius Caesar

Quote 12

CAESAR
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be feared
Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar. (1.2.218-222)

Caesar is unashamed of his arrogance.  He doesn't see his condescension as arrogance; instead it's a quality he has earned by proving himself a powerful man.