12 Quotes from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar For Modern Life

M.L.
2 min readAug 5, 2023

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  1. Quote: The eye sees not itself
    But by reflection, by some other things.

    Use to: explain why you have broccoli in your teeth.
  2. Quote: If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
    Use to: cue up the latest Pixar movie.
  3. Quote: Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
    Use to: tell someone they’re being a dumbass.
  4. Quote: I am sick of many griefs.
    Use to: summarize how late-stage consumerist capitalism is depressing you.
  5. Quote: Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
    Use to: intercept your messy, high, and/or drunk friends.
  6. Quote: When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.
    Use to: apologize without apologizing.
  7. Quote: Dwell I but in the suburbs of your good pleasure?
    Use to: call out your flaky friend or lover.
  8. Quote: But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
    Use to: ask your boss why you need to stay late when it’s the company’s poor planning that has left you understaffed and overworked (yet again).
  9. Quote: Men may construe things after their fashion,
    Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.
    Use to: describe conspiracy theorists and propaganda enthusiasts like Q-Anon.
  10. Quote: Indeed, it is a strange-disposèd time.
    Use to: agree that yes indeed and still, we are in uncommon, turbulent, singular, and ‘unprecedented times’.
  11. Quote: Till then, think of the world.
    Use to: dramatically end a conversation.
  12. Quote: O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
    That I am meek and gentle with these butchers.

    User to: apologize to the Earth for letting greedy billionaires destroy her.

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M.L.

Language-and-story wrangler. Perpetual student. Adventurer.