Caesar's wife must be above suspicion

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion

proverb If one is involved with a famous or prominent figure, one must avoid attracting negative attention or scrutiny. Julius Caesar allegedly used the phrase to explain why he divorced his wife, Pompeia. After my son's scandal derailed my presidential bid, I understood why Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.
See also: above, must, suspicion, wife
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

Prov. The associates of public figures must not even be suspected of wrongdoing. (The ancient Roman Julius Caesar is supposed to have said this when asked why he divorced his wife, Pompeia. Because she was suspected of some wrongdoing, he could not associate with her anymore.) Jill: I don't think the mayor is trustworthy; his brother was charged with embezzlement. Jane: But the charges were never proved. Jill: That doesn't matter. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. When the newspapers reported the rumor that the lieutenant governor had failed to pay his taxes, the governor forced him to resign, saying, "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."
See also: above, must, suspicion, wife
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • as one door closes, another (one) opens
  • as one door closes, another one opens
  • as one door closes, another opens
  • give (someone) an inch and (someone) (will) take a mile
  • give (someone) an inch and (someone) (will) take a yard
  • cooking for one
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give head
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The expression " Caesar's wife must be above suspicion " has its origin in the incident when Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia after her name became linked with Clodius ' s, not because he believed her to be guilty, but because the wife of Caesar must not even be suspected of crime.
Caesar, (Caius) Julius
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