The famous line “Et tu, Brute?” is associated with the Roman dictator Julius Caesar.

Quick Scoop

  • The phrase appears in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar , where Caesar says “Et tu, Brute?” to his friend Marcus Junius Brutus at the moment he recognizes him among his assassins.
  • In the play, the line captures the ultimate sense of betrayal: even a trusted ally has turned against him.
  • Historically, ancient sources disagree on Caesar’s exact last words, and the Latin phrase itself is likely a dramatic invention that Shakespeare helped make famous worldwide.

In pop culture and modern forum discussions, “Et tu, Brute?” is now shorthand for a shocking betrayal by someone unexpectedly close to you.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.