31 quotes
Antony's Reflection on Cleopatra's Love
Antony
How many have loved you since him? One? Ten? Anyone? No one? Have they kissed you with Caesar's lips? Touched you with his hands? Is it his name you cry out in the dark? And afterwards, alone, has he reproached you and have you begged forgiveness of his memory?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Defending Knowledge Against Barbarism
Cleopatra
How dare you and the rest of your barbarians set fire to my library? Play conqueror all you want, Mighty Caesar! Rape, murder, pillage thousands, millions of human beings! But neither you nor any other barbarian has the right to destroy one human thought!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Maintaining Military Loyalty
Caesar
Remind him as always to keep his Legions intact, for they make the law legal.
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A New Beginning for Cleopatra's Relationship
Cleopatra
We'll make this our beginning. Beginning with tonight... You must never envy Caesar, or anyone, anything else again.
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A Lighthearted Exchange on Physical Features
Cleopatra
You have such bony knees.
[kicking a cushion off her dais for Caesar to kneel on during her coronation]
Caesar
Not only bony, but unaccustomed to this sort of thing.
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Desire and Fulfillment in Love
Antony
Everything that I shall ever want to hold or look upon or have or be is here now with you.
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A Warning About Words and Consequences
Marc Antony
Your tongue is old, but sharp, Cicero. Be careful how you waggle it. One day it will cut off your head.
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The Pain of Love's Betrayal
Cleopatra
How it hurts. How love can stab the heart.
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The Game of Love and Desire
Antony
Lovers always want so much never to have loved before...It becomes a game. Who loved whom first?
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Questions of Life and Death
Antony
Why are you not dead? Why do you live? How do you live? Why do you not lie at the deepest hole of the sea, bloodless, and bloated, and at peace with honorable death?
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Return the dagger, but clean it first.
Caesar
Flavius, return Apollodorus dagger to him… but clean it first. It has Pothinus all over it.
[After the execution of Pothinus]
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Acceptance of Death by Cleopatra
Cleopatra
Octavian, when I am ready to die, I will die.
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Embracing Fertility and Identity as Cleopatra
Cleopatra
I am the Nile. I will have sons. Isis has told me… My breasts are full of love and life. My hips are rounded and well apart. Such women, they say, have sons.
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Indifference to Life and Death
Octavian
Antony is dead? You say that as if it were an everyday occurrence. The soup is hot, the soup is cold. Antony is alive, Antony is dead.
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The Unusual Silence of Cleopatra
Cleopatra
Strange, there has never been... such a silence.
[''On Antony's death'']
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Facing Darkness with Confidence
Cleopatra
The corridors are dark, gentlemen… but you mustn't be afraid. I am with you.
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Divine Identity and Historical Rivalry
Julius Caesar
Ah, yes. I seem to recall some mention of an obsession you have about your divinity... Isis, is it not?
Cleopatra
I shall have to insist that you mind what you say. I am Isis. I am worshiped by millions who believe it. You are not to confuse what I am with the so-called divine origin which every Roman general seems to acquire together with his shield. It was, uh, Venus you chose to be descended from, wasn't it?
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Antony's Envy of Caesar's Connection to Cleopatra
Antony
From the first instant I saw you, entering Rome on that monstrous stone beast, shining in the sun like a little gold toy how I envied Caesar. Went suddenly sick with it. Not his conquests or his triumphs. Not his titles of the mob. I envied him you.
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Cleopatra's Confidence in Caesar's Expectations
Cleopatra
We must not disappoint the mighty Caesar! The Romans tell fabulous tales of my baths and handmaidens... and my morals!
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Intellectual Discourse Among Historical Figures
Agrippa
Well versed in the natural sciences and mathematics. She speaks seven languages proficiently. Were she not a woman one would consider her to be an intellectual. Nothing bores me so much as an intellectual!
Julius Caesar
Makes a better admiral of you, Agrippa.
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The Struggle of Unrequited Love
Antony
For so long now you have filled my life...like...like a great noise that I hear everywhere in my heart. I want to be free of you. Of wanting you. Of being afraid. But I will never...be free of you.
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Recognition and Power in Ancient Politics
Julius Caesar
You all look so impressive. Any one of you could be king.
Pothinus
His Majesty King Ptolemy, kindred of Horus and Ra, beloved of Thoth...
Julius Caesar
Et cetera, et cetera; you welcome me. And I, Gaius Julius Caesar, Consul of the Roman Senate, Pontifex Maximus, et cetera, et cetera, thank you.
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Approval and Dissent in Political Alliances
Cleopatra
Catullus doesn't approve of you... why haven't you had him killed?
Caesar
Because I approve of him.
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A Kiss That Takes My Breath Away
Antony
A kiss...to take my breath away...
[Dying in Cleopatra's arms]
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Cleopatra on Roman Tactics Against the Vulnerable
Cleopatra
That’s how Romans frighten little girls. They like to frighten little girls!
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Claiming Identity as Caesar
Octavian
I am Caesar.
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The Burden of Royal Time
Cleopatra
There are never enough hours in the days of a queen, and her nights have too many.
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Assertion of Freedom and Independence
Cleopatra
I will not be told where I can go and where I cannot go!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Awakening from a Long Dream
Cleopatra
How strangely awake I feel. As if living had been just a long dream. Someone else’s dream. Now finished at last...
[''After the Asp has bitten her'']
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The Paradox of Lifeless Statues
Caesar
I do not understand why the eyes of a statue should always lack life.
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The Cost of Power and Position
Caesar
)... a position not acquired without certain, shall we say, sacrifice.
[Speaking of the Grand Eunuc]
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