Not that I loved Caesar less but that I loved Rome more Explain Brutus speaks this line at Caesar s funeral He must defend the killing before the people He claims love for Rome above love for Caesar He argues duty over friendship He asks the crowd for trust and calm He frames the act as civic care Brutus s Claim Brutus says Not that I loved Caesar less but that I loved Rome more He means his first loyalty is to the state He feared one-man rule Cassius had warned The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars So choice not fate guides him Brutus chooses Rome Fear of Tyranny The plea of Metellus is a trap Caesar refuses and says I am constant as the Northern Star The words sound proud and fixed Brutus reads this as a danger to freedom He thinks a fixed will will