Pride Quotes - Julius Caesar | Julius Caesar- Summary, Themes & Characters - Novels PDF Download

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.

CASCA

But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?

It is the part of men to fear and tremble

When the most mighty gods by tokens send

Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. (1.3.56-59)

Casca has fear before the gods, while Cassius interprets heavenly interference as a sign that his traitorous enterprise will go well.  Cassius is arrogant in his interpretation that the gods are on his side, while Casca displays humility.

CAESAR

Caesar should be a beast without a heart,

If he should stay at home today for fear.

No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well

That Caesar is more dangerous than he. (2.2.45-48)

Ever notice the way Julius Caesar likes to talk about Julius Caesar in the third person?  He sounds a lot like Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, don't you think?  Grrr.

CAESAR

Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me

Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see

The face of Caesar, they are vanished. (2.2.10-12)

Caesar is shockingly cocky.  Even if he just talks a good game, it's hard to be sympathetic toward him.

ARTEMIDORUS

O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit

That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.

CAESAR

What touches us ourself shall be last served. (3.1.6-8)

This seems like a bad time for Caesar to be self-sacrificing.  Then again, we've only seen Caesar be really arrogant when he's being challenged.  What evidence do we have that Caesar would put his own affairs above the affairs of the state?

CAESAR

I could be well moved, if I were as you.

If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.

But I am constant as the Northern Star,

Of whose true fixed and resting quality

There is no fellow in the firmament.

The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks;

They are all fire, and every one doth shine.

But there's but one in all doth hold his place.

So in the world: 'tis furnished well with men,

And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive.

Yet in the number I do know but one

That unassailable holds on his rank,

Unshaked of motion; and that I am he

Let me a little show it, even in this;

That I was constant Cimber should be banished 

And constant do remain to keep him so. (3.1.64-79)

During Caesar's famous "I'm the brightest star in the sky" speech, he claims to be the most "constant" (steady) guy in the universe because he can't be swayed by the personal appeals of other men. This says a whole lot about Caesar's character, don't you think? When Caesar aligns himself with the "northern star," he attempts to elevate himself above all other men. According to Caesar, even though there are other stars (men) in the sky (Rome), "there's but one in all doth hold his place." In other words, Caesar claims that he's the only guy solid enough to rule Rome (as evidenced by his refusal to relent after having banished Cimber). 

The irony here is that Caesar delivers this big, fancy speech mere seconds before he's assassinated. Just as our superstar declares how "unshak[able]" and immovable he is, the conspirators surround him and then stab him to death (33 times!), obviously unseating him from power. But before we conclude that Caesar isn't as "constant" as he claims to be, we should also keep in mind that, centuries after the historical (and still famous) Caesar was assassinated, Shakespeare wrote a play about him...and we're still reading it.

CASSIUS

Stoop then, and wash. 

[They smear their hands and swords with Caesar’s blood.] 

                                   How many ages hence

Shall this our lofty scene be acted over

In states unborn and accents yet unknown!

BRUTUS

How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,

That now on Pompey's basis lies along

No worthier than the dust!

CASSIUS

So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be called

The men that gave their country liberty. (3.1.123-132)

The conspirators believe they'll go down in history for their act, yet they arrogantly (or naively) assume they will be remembered as heroes, not traitors.  The glory of being preserved by history is enough of a lure that that's what they dwell on after the murder, second only to having liberated Rome.

ANTONY

Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up

To such a sudden flood of mutiny.

They that have done this deed are honorable.

What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,

That made them do it. They are wise and honorable

And will no doubt with reasons answer you.

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

That love my friend, and that they know full well

That gave me public leave to speak of him.

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,

Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech

To stir men's blood. I only speak right on.

I tell you that which you yourselves do know,

Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor dumb mouths,

And bid them speak for me. (3.2.222-239)

False humility is often worse than arrogance.  Antony sets himself up as an ignoble and untrustworthy character here.

OCTAVIUS

You may do your will,

But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

ANTONY

So is my horse, Octavius, and for that

I do appoint him store of provender.

It is a creature that I teach to fight,

To wind, to stop, to run directly on,

His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit (4.1.31-37)

Antony is shamelessly arrogant when speaking about Lepidus.   He displays the same trait Caesar had: he thinks he's naturally above others, giving him freedom to do and say whatever he wants.  Antony can't see his own prideful arrogance.  Perhaps he doesn't see himself as arrogant, but just honest.  Still, whatever bad you can say about Caesar, he's definitely earned some degree of cockiness. Antony, a little party-hearty fellow, arguably has a lot more to prove.

CASSIUS

I did not think you could have been so angry.

BRUTUS

O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.

CASSIUS

Of your philosophy you make no use

If you give place to accidental evils.

BRUTUS

No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. (4.3.164-168)

Brutus exercises another type of humility here: stoicism, or the realization that life is a burden that each man has to bear.  He figures he might as well bear suffering nobly rather than getting worked up over every little thing, like his wife dying or murdering his best friend.