Julius Caesar

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Veni, vidi, vici.

Gaius Julius Caesar (Classical Latin: GAIVS IVLIVS CÆSAR) (13 July 100 BC - 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman military and political leader. He played an important part in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. His conquest of Gaul extended the Roman world all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, with the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, as well as a brilliant politician and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders.

For the famous play by William Shakespeare, see Julius Caesar.

1 Sourced
2 Attributed
3 Misattributions
4 External links

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Sourced

Veni, vidi, vici.
- Translation: I came, I saw, I conquered.
- Written in a report to Rome 47 B.C. after conquering Farnakes at Zela in Asia Minor in just five days.

Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres.
- Translation: All Gaul is divided into three parts
- De Bello Gallico, Book I, Ch. 1

Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.
- Translation: Men willingly believe what they wish.
- De Bello Gallico, Book III, Ch. 18

De omnis Belgae fortissimi sunt.
- Translation: Of all these, the Belgians are the bravest/strongest .
- Caesar suffered his greatest military defeat at the hands of the Belgians, the humiliation reaching Rome, and infuriating the man who then set out on one of Rome's biggest campaigns to crush the Republic's most feared rebels once and for all.

Alea iacta est.
- Translation: The die is cast.
- Said when crossing the river Rubicon with his legions, thus beginning the civil war that ended the Roman Republic and created the Roman Empire. The Rubicon river was the boundary of Gaul, the province Caesar had the authority to keep his army in. By crossing the river, he had committed to an invasion of Rome.

Galia est pacata.
- Translation: Gaul is subdued.
- Written in a letter with which Caesar informed the Roman Senate of his victory over Vercingetorix in 52BCE

"Fortune, which has a great deal of power in other matters but especially in war, can bring about great changes in a situation through very slight forces.
- The Civil War

"I would rather be first in a village than second in Rome"

On his way to Spain

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Attributed

As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can.

It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.

Tu quoque, Brute, fili mi?
- Translation: You too, Brutus, my son?
- Appeared in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar as "Et tu, Brute" ("And you, also, Brutus?"), though Caesar's actual last words are unknown. They have been reported to be Greek, not Latin: "Kai su, teknon?" meaning "And you, child?"

To prefer my friendship to that of those who have always been his and my bitter enemies, by whose machinations the country has been brought to its present impasse.
- In a request from Caesar to Pompey for a resolution to the impending civil war.

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Misattributions

Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.
- This statement has also been wrongly attributed to William Shakespeare, but the actual author is unknown. The article on it at Snopes.com states : "No record of this quote has been found prior to its appearance on the Internet in late 2001."

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