45 Best Cleopatra Quotes From Popular Culture
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If you like to look up to those powerful and charismatic historical figures whose personalities still have the power to influence us today, then you are at the right destination.
Essayist Stacy Schiff said that “from every ancient source, we have a testimony to Cleopatra’s irresistible charm. As Plutarch said, 'her ability to speak many languages including, as he puts it, the language of flattery and essentially, to be able to turn people to her will - a great political genius, in that respect.'”
Cleopatra’s primary objectives were to be Egypt’s sole ruler and expand her realm’s territory. Her prime objective became to reclaim Egypt for herself and be the solitary leader of Egypt.
She was beautiful as any other woman in Alexandria. According to Plutarch, Cleopatra’s beauty was more about her presence, her persuasiveness, her powerful character, her tone, and her compelling tongue made her a pillar of strength and helped her create her own space in the ear.
The Cleopatra quote, “I will not be triumphed over”, gives us a clear glimpse of what a determined and strong personality she was, a pillar of excellence.
Cleopatra spoke Koine Greek and was only Ptolemaic ruler who learnt Egyptian. Even though her existence was marked over 2000 years ago, various Cleopatra quotes even today stand out as great examples of her allure.
If you like this article, you may also like [Queen quotes] and [Elizabeth Taylor quotes].
Best Cleopatra Quotes
As quoted by Stacy Schiff, Cleopatra is a notable and legendary figure, a dynamic queen. With her persona, she influences us to put forth our best in the competing world like she did those many years ago.
Cleopatra was an enigmatic Egyptian queen. She was the epitome of power, wisdom, love, and passion. Here we have listed some of the best Cleopatra quotes for you along with Cleopatra Shakespeare quotes.
1. “Fool! Don’t you see now that I could have poisoned you a hundred times had I been able to live without you.”
- Cleopatra.
2. “Leave the fishing-rod, Great General, to us sovereigns of Pharos and Canopus. Your game is cities and kings and continents.”
- Cleopatra.
3. “[At Marc Antony’s tomb:] Nothing could part us in life, but now in death, we are likely to change places, you the Roman lying here in Egyptian soil, and I, helpless woman that I am, being buried in Italy.”
- Cleopatra.
4. “In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.”
- Cleopatra.
5. “Is he a good man? Define 'good'.”
- Cleopatra.
6. “I will not be triumphed over.”
- Elizabeth Tayor, Cleopatra.
7. “My honour was not yielded but conquered merely.”
- Cleopatra.
8. “All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise.”
- Cleopatra.
9. “[As she applies the second asp to her arm.] “I can no more. O Antony!– Nay, I will take thee too.”
- Cleopatra.
10. “So I learned two things that night, and the next day, from him: the perfection of a moment, and the fleeting nature of it.”
- Margaret George, ‘The Memoirs Of Cleopatra’.
11. “And make death proud to take us.”
- Cleopatra.
12. “Celerity is never more admired than by the negligent.”
- Cleopatra.
13.
“She did not approach Caesar wrapped in a carpet, she was not a seductress, she did not use her charm to persuade the men in her life to lose their judgement, and she did not die by the bite of an asp…Yet other important elements of her career have been bypassed in the post-antique recension: she was a skilled naval commander, a published medical authority, and an expert royal administrator who was met with adulation throughout the eastern Mediterranean, perhaps seen by some as a messianic figure, the hope for a future Eastern Mediterranean free of Roman domination.”
- Duane W. Roller, ‘Cleopatra: A Biography’.
14. “...to rush into the secret house of death...”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
15. “Apollodorus came, Caesar saw, Cleopatra conquered.”
- Stacy Schiff, ‘Cleopatra: A Life’.
Iconic Quotes About Cleopatra
Cleopatra is a dynamic and captivating historical figure. Sufficient interest and prowess encompassed her rule to keep her an eminent and notable personage, even after so many years. Read on for some iconic quotes from Cleopatra.
16. “As a famous historian once said, in all its history, Rome deigned to fear two people; one was Hannibal, the other was a woman.”
- Karen Essex, ‘Pharaoh’.
17. “I loved him so, even his past was precious to me.
I found myself kissing each mark, thinking, I would have had it never happen, I would wish it away, taking him further and further back to a time when he had known no disappointments, no battles, no wounds, as I erased each one. To make him again like Caesarion.
Yet if we take the past away from those we love - even to protect them - do we not steal their very selves?”
- Margaret George, ‘The Memoirs Cleopatra’.
18. “Princess,” he said, spreading his arms in a shrug, “how does such a little thing like you get such a big temper?” I held up my hand to shield my eyes from the sun. “Marc Antony,” I said, “how does such a big man like you have such a little brain?”
- Kristiana Gregory, ‘Cleopatra VII: Daughter Of The Nile- 57 B.C.’.
19. “she did lie, In her Pavillion--cloth-of-gold of tissue--O’er-picturing that Venus where we see, The fancy out-work nature”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
20. “I will even not rant about treachery. I was brought up in a sea of treachery and deceit and betrayal. I swam in it like perch in the Nile. I am completely at home in it. I shall not drown.”
- Margaret George, ‘The Memoirs Cleopatra’.
21. “If you find him sad, Say I am dancing. If in mirth, report That I am sudden sick.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
22. “Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale. Her infinite variety [...] she makes hungry Where most she satisfies; for vilest things Become themselves in her.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
23. “and Anthony, Enthroned i’th’market-place, did sit alone Whistling to th’air, which but for vacancy Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in Nature.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
24. “That something is not impossible does not mean that it happened.”
- Adrian Goldsworthy, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
Famous Cleopatra Quotes
When Egypt and Rome were entangled in battles, Cleopatra exercised an effectual strategy; she significantly influenced politics, established her power, and balanced her realm. Here are some of the best queen Cleopatra quotes.
25. “Nay, pray you, seek no color for your going, But bid farewell and go. When you sued to stay, Then was the time for words.
No going then! Eternity was in our lips and eyes, Bliss in our brows’ bent, none our parts so poor But was a race of heaven. They are so still, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Art turned the greatest liar.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
26. “A commanding woman versed in politics, diplomacy, and governance; fluent in nine languages; silver-tongued and charismatic, Cleopatra nonetheless seems the joint creation of Roman propagandists and Hollywood directors.”
- Stacy Schiff, ‘Cleopatra: A Life’.
27. “In her adult life, Cleopatra would have met a few people she considered her equal. To the Romans, she was a stubborn, supreme exception to every rule.
She remains largely incomparable: She had plenty of predecessors, few successors. With her, the age of empresses essentially came to an end.
In two thousand years only one or two other women could be said to have wielded unrestricted authority over so vast a realm. Cleopatra remains nearly alone at the all-male table, in possession of a hand both flush and flawed. She got a very good deal right, and one crucial thing wrong.”
- Stacy Schiff, ‘Cleopatra: A Life’
28. “The art of speaking,” it was later said, “depends on much effort, continual study, varied kinds of exercise, long experience, profound wisdom, and unfailing strategic sense.”
- Stacy Schiff, ‘Cleopatra: A Life’.
29. “Her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love; we cannot call her winds and water, sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report. This cannot be cunning in her. If it be, she makes a shower rain as well as Jove.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
30. “The breaking of so great a thing should make a greater crack: the round world Should have shook lions into civil streets, And citizens to their dens.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
31. “Cleopatra was exhausting to play, but also completely exhilarating. She creates her own energy.”
- Harriet Walter.
32. “I decided I was going to play Cleopatra as someone with a brain. She’s kept Egypt, this tiny country, in a balance of power with the almighty Roman Empire, and she’s done it through force of personality.”
- Harriet Walter.
33. “In time we hate that which we often fear.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
34. “Cleopatra was on a political mission to save her country and her power, but what we remember about her are these two famed seductions, which are a matter of politics, not a matter of love.”
- Stacy Schiff.
35. “If you find sad, say I am dancing. If in mirth, report that I am sudden sick.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
36. “Melt Egypt into Nile!”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
37. “In nature’s infinite book of secrecy A little I can read.”
- William Shakespeare, ‘Antony And Cleopatra’.
38. “Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought.”
- Cleopatra.
39. “The name Cleopatra wakens the world to life.”
- Carmen Boullosa, ‘Cleopatra Dismounts’.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Cleopatra quotes, then why not take a look at [quotes from 'Julius Caesar'], or [King and Queen quotes].
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Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing
Supriya JainBachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing
As a skilled member of the Kidadl team, Shruti brings extensive experience and expertise in professional content writing. With a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Punjab University and an MBA in Business Administration from IMT Nagpur, Shruti has worked in diverse roles such as sales intern, content writer, executive trainee, and business development consultant. Her exceptional writing skills cover a wide range of areas, including SOP, SEO, B2B/B2C, and academic content.
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