Julius Caesar

by

William Shakespeare

Caius Cassius Character Analysis

Read our modern English translation.
Cassius is the instigator of the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius served beside Caesar in many wars and even once rescued him from drowning. Unlike Brutus, who loves Caesar but is opposed to the idea of a monarchy, Cassius seems more motivated by jealousy of Caesar than by any political ideology. Indeed, Cassius begins to exhibit many of the bad qualities for which he initially argued Caesar must die, like ambition, dishonesty, and greed. Cassius is skilled at using language and his perceptive nature to steer conversations to his own ends, which is how he wins over Brutus in particular to the conspiracy. At the end of the play, he commits suicide, assisted by Pindarus, when he assumes that his and Brutus’s army is about to be defeated.

Caius Cassius Quotes in Julius Caesar

The Julius Caesar quotes below are all either spoken by Caius Cassius or refer to Caius Cassius. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Manhood and Honor Theme Icon
).
Act 1, scene 2 Quotes

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.

Related Characters: Caius Cassius (speaker), Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus
Page Number: 1.2.146-148
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Caius Cassius
Page Number: 1.2.202-205
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, scene 1 Quotes

But this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why, then, this parting was well made.

Related Characters: Marcus Brutus (speaker), Caius Cassius
Related Symbols: Omens
Page Number: 5.1.123-129
Explanation and Analysis:
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Caius Cassius Quotes in Julius Caesar

The Julius Caesar quotes below are all either spoken by Caius Cassius or refer to Caius Cassius. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Manhood and Honor Theme Icon
).
Act 1, scene 2 Quotes

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.

Related Characters: Caius Cassius (speaker), Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus
Page Number: 1.2.146-148
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Caius Cassius
Page Number: 1.2.202-205
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, scene 1 Quotes

But this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why, then, this parting was well made.

Related Characters: Marcus Brutus (speaker), Caius Cassius
Related Symbols: Omens
Page Number: 5.1.123-129
Explanation and Analysis: