Quick answer“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” is a famous quote by William Shakespeare. It comes from Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 2. It is widely quoted on courage and wisdom.
Cassius tells Brutus that their low standing is their own fault, not fate's: 'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.' The line comes in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar, as Cassius tries to recruit Brutus against Caesar.
Origin: Spoken by Cassius to Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, first performed in 1599 and first printed in the First Folio of 1623. Cassius is trying to persuade Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar, arguing that their low standing is their own doing, not fate's.
Key facts
| Quote | “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” |
|---|---|
| Author | William Shakespeare |
| Source | Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 2 |
| Themes | courage, wisdom |
| Language | English |
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