Gaius Julius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar, (100-44 B.C.) Dictator of the Roman Republic

False Gaius Julius Caesar Quote

“Beware of the leader, who strikes the war drum in order to transfer the citizens into patriotic glow, patriotism is indeed a double-sided sword. It makes the blood so boldly, like it constricts the intellect. And if the striking of the war drum reached a fiebrige height and the blood is cooking and hating, and the intellect is dismissed, the leader doesn't need to reject the citizens rights. The citizens, cought by anxiety and blinded through patriotism, will subordinate all their rights to the leader and this even with happy courage. Why do I know that? I know it, because this is, what I did. And I am Gajus Julius Cäsar.”

Gaius Julius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar
~ Gaius Julius Caesar

Falsely attributed -- see http://www.snopes.com/quotes/caesar.htm

Ratings and Comments


Alain, Salt Lake City

I do not know if the quote is really from Caesar but it sounds very well observed to me. Also I find it intriguing that this "false" quote follows one which says: Men willingly believe what they wish !!!

A. W. Schlaf, Des Moines, IA

Too cute with clever insinuations, Alain. Now, be a good boy and show us just where Caesar said this and provide the original Latin. You cannot as it is 100% bogus.

The Dude, Tacoma

This quote is a myth and should be taken down. No scholar has ever found the source of this quote.

W.L. Roan, Beaumont Texas

Some truths ring as a bar of steel under a smithy's hammer, others a funeral bell. If words ring true, as these do, of what import is their origin? Ramses' (Ozymandias) most famous words were not his, but the poet Shelly's, are they less relevant for it?

maiinkan, South Bend

I think we ought to blame this quote on "g". Being to thoughtful and wordy for him doesn't change the facts. He thought he was Caesar. Shame on the sheep who allowed him to bring us to the place we are now.

Anonymous, Pittsburgh

This should say George w bush. Citizen's are giving up their rights to the government. Allowing invasive pat downs in airports, the government goes into your pants , literally. Tsa is your gov's police,which is unconstitutional!

Dennis Cambly, Edmonton

This was written by me. as a lead in to a story about the war monger George W Bush Jr, in late 2001. This is not a quote by Julius Caesar and it never said so in the article I wrote. The article was written for a long gone website times10.org and was later put as the heading on my blog on blogger.com. As you can see it is not attributed to Julius Caesar. It was in fact a slap in the face to Bush Jr. who claimed God spoke to him often. 10 years later the intro to the article remains all over the Internet. Sadly the remainder of the article remains with me as the author. At the time I wrote it I believed Bush would take us into never ending wars and our freedoms would be destroyed.

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