Caesar quotes: the best expressions

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:53

Gaius Julius Caesar is one of the most famous politicians, military leaders, writers and dictators of the times of Ancient Rome. In addition, Caesar was also the high priest. His origins were rooted in one of the Roman families of the ruling class, and Caesar stubbornly and consistently sought for himself an ever higher position. He was distinguished by mercy, but he still sent several of his opponents to execution. The words of Julius Caesar are still of interest to everyone who is interested in history and politics. Many of his phrases have become catchphrases.

The most famous phrase

One of Caesar's most famous quotes is Divide et impera (Divide and conquer). Literally, this expression translates as "divide to reign." This phrase, which has become winged, means that if you divide the people among themselves, it becomes much easier to manage them. After all, strength lies in unity, and one by one it becomes much more difficult for everyone to survive. The words of Julius Caesar "Divide and Conquer" are still used by many leaders today as the main credo. But often the ruler does not even need to divide the people - people themselves gather into "interest groups", in which there are onlyone truth, and any dissenter is considered an enemy of this group.

Victory over Farnak

Another of Caesar's most famous quotes is Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered). With this phrase, Caesar summed up his victory over King Pharnaces in 47 BC. e. Farnak was the ruler of the Pontic kingdom and the Bosporus. At this time, a civil war was in full swing in Rome, and the Pontic kingdom had long given the Roman Empire numerous inconveniences. King Pharnaces decided to take advantage of the opportunity and, while Rome was busy with internal proceedings, invaded Cappadocia. This area was in the northern part of Turkey and belonged to Rome. Pharnaces de alt a severe blow to the weakened Roman defenses; it was rumored at the time that he subjected them to severe torture.

But further developments show why Caesar's quote about the victory over Pharnaces became so famous. The emperor, returning with a victory in the Alexandrian War, firmly decided to put Pharnaces in his place and teach him a lesson. The battle took place near the city of Zele, and in just five days Caesar literally smashed the well-organized army of the Pontic ruler to smithereens. In his letter to his friend Amantius, the Roman emperor could not help boasting of this victory. Since then, Caesar's quote Veni, Vidi, Vici has become famous.

Phrase about betrayal

But there is another equally well-known expression that is attributed to the great emperor. Every educated person knows him.person, even if he is not familiar with the life history of the ruler. Caesar's quote "Et tu, Brute?" (“And you, Brutus?”), which the emperor uttered at the time of his death, has long become a household word. It is used in cases of betrayal of a trusted and close person - this is exactly what Brutus was for Caesar. Why did they decide to kill the emperor? The reason was the increasing concentration of power in the hands of the emperor. This provoked the growth of discontent among the Roman elite. Caesar could not be saved by any services to society and victories. By the end of his life, all power was practically only in his hands, which made him a dictator. When exactly was this quote from Julius Caesar made? The plot could be carried out only by those people who were closest to the emperor. Caesar was stabbed to death. When he saw among his killers a close friend, Junius Brutus, then he reproachfully uttered his famous words: “And you, Brutus?”.