---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia…"
description: "\"Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at the trial that he knew nothing of what was alleged against her and Clodius. When asked why, in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg"
---

#  Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at…

![“Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at the trial that he knew nothing of what was alleged against her and Clodius. When asked why, in that case, he had divorced her, he replied: Because I would have the chastity of my wife clear even of suspicion.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg)

> “Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at the trial that he knew nothing of what was alleged against her and Clodius. When asked why, in that case, he had divorced her, he replied: Because I would have the chastity of my wife clear even of suspicion.”

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Caesar claimed innocence and divorced his wife to protect her reputation from suspicion.

**In simple terms:** He divorced to keep his wife's reputation clean.

Key Takeaway

Protect reputations, even at personal cost.

Themes

honor reputation marriage

Mood

thoughtful historical

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- public scandal
- legal defense
- family honor

Key Concepts

political strategy personal integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- Is reputation more important than truth?
- How far should one go to protect another's honor?

A Different Perspective

Divorce may not fully clear suspicion; public perception persists.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chastity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chastity/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/)

## Related quotes

> [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [But Shakespeare never drank coffee. Nor did Julius Caesar, or Socrates. Alexander the Great conquered half the world without even a café latte to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/but-shakespeare-never-drank-coffee-nor-did-julius-caesar-or-socrates/)

[Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/)

> [ He \[Julius Caesar\] learned that Alexander , having completed nearly all his conquests by the time he was thirty-two years old, was at an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus/he-julius-caesar-learned-that-alexander-having-completed-nearly-all/)

[Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus/)

> [In his fifty-six years he was at times many things, including a fugitive, prisoner, rising politician, army leader, legal advocate, rebel, dictator – perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-goldsworthy/in-his-fifty-six-years-he-was-at-times-many-things-including-a/)

[Adrian Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-goldsworthy/)

> [I don't think Vladimir Putin goes to the theater enough to even deign to think there was any criticism intended. We were invited by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-doran/i-don-t-think-vladimir-putin-goes-to-the-theater-enough-to-even-deign/)

[Gregory Doran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-doran/)

> [Epilepsy is a disease in the shadows. Patients are often reluctant to admit their condition - even to close family, friends or co-workers -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-resnick/epilepsy-is-a-disease-in-the-shadows-patients-are-often-reluctant-to/)

[Lynda Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-resnick/)

> [The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-f-bruce/the-historicity-of-christ-is-as-axiomatic-for-an-unbiased-historian/)

[F. F. Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-f-bruce/)

> [We applied a very simple principle: Recognize the facts. Abortion is old as the world. Gay marriage, please - it's older than the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-applied-a-very-simple-principle-recognize-the-facts-abortion-is/)

[Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/)

> [While trying to protect the republic, the conspirators in Julius Caesar enable Mark Antony to triumph. In Rose Rage, the more Henry VI tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hall/while-trying-to-protect-the-republic-the-conspirators-in-julius/)

[Edward Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hall/)

> [I was nine. I saw Orson Welles in 'Julius Caesar.' It was involving, emotional, imaginative. I've never forgotten it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-was-nine-i-saw-orson-welles-in-julius-caesar-it-was-involving/)

[Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/)

> [Mere opinions, in fact, were as likely to govern people's actions as hard evidence, and were subject to sudden reversals as hard evidence could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/mere-opinions-in-fact-were-as-likely-to-govern-people-s-actions-as/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [The Canadian version of Julius Caesar's memoirs? I came, I saw, I coped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/the-canadian-version-of-julius-caesar-s-memoirs-i-came-i-saw-i-coped/)

[Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/)

> [I have seen productions of Julius Caesar that set it in a modern, Western context and it just looks as though they're getting rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-doran/i-have-seen-productions-of-julius-caesar-that-set-it-in-a-modern/)

[Gregory Doran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-doran/)

> [All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/all-democracies-turn-into-dictatorships-but-not-by-coup-the-people/)

[George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/)

> [It was true that there was no such person as Comrade Oglivy, but a few lines of print and a couple of faked photographs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-was-true-that-there-was-no-such-person-as-comrade-oglivy-but-a-few/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

## More by Plutarch

> [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

> [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/)

[Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

[Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/)

## More Cases quotes

> [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/)

[Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/)

> [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/)

[Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/)

> [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/)

[Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/)

> [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/)

[Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/)

[Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

Browse all 6,420 Cases quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at the trial that he knew nothing of what was alleged against her and Clodius. When asked why, in that case, he had divorced her, he replied: Because I would have the chastity of my wife clear even of suspicion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Plutarch"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia-but-declared-at-the-trial/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cases"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia-but-declared-at-the-trial/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/plutarch-597_cases_julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia_1947660.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at the trial that he knew nothing of what was alleged…” — Plutarch",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Plutarch",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia-but-declared-at-the-trial/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/julius-caesar-divorced-his-wife-pompeia-but-declared-at-the-trial/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
