On a stormy night before the ides of March, Cassius meets Casca on a Roman street and Casca reveals that the senators plan to crown Julius Caesar as king. Cassius then responds by saying,
I know where I will wear this dagger then. Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. (Shakespeare, 1.3.90)
Cassius is essentially telling Casca that he is willing to commit suicide rather than be a slave under Caesar's tyrannical authority. Cassius's quote is significant for several reasons. Cassius's comment not only emphasizes his determination and hatred for Julius Caesar but also foreshadows his suicide, which takes place in act 5, scene 3 when he instructs Pindarus to stab him in the chest during the final Battle of Philippi. Cassius's remarks also indicate that he will die nobly opposing tyranny and also contribute to the themes of death and nobility, which are examined throughout the play.
In Act 1, as all the...
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scheming (on Cassius's part) takes place against Caesar, Cassius carries on conversations with Brutus and Casca about Caesar's rise in power and how he is not willing to endure being under Caesar's oppression. In the first part of the quote, Cassius is not literally referring to wearing his dagger, he means that he will find a place for the dagger--in Caesar. By ridding himself of his enemy and the one whom he feels is oppressing him (Caesar), he alone will be responsible for freeing himself. In other words, he is not going to depend on anyone else to secure his wishes or freedom for him.
At the end of this speech, Cassius says,
"If I know this, know all the world besides, / That part of tyranny that I do bear / I can shake off at pleasure" (1.3.104-106).
This is essentially a reiteration of Cassius's previous words--he will take care of himself, whenever he so desires.
These braggadocio comments on Cassius's part are ironic in light of his relentless pursuit to get Brutus involved in the plot (he "needs" Brutus) and his rather whiny, sheepish behavior in Act 4 of the play.