Other quotes
View Quote
Gracchus: I think he [Commodus] knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the Senate, it's the sand of the Colosseum. He'll bring them death...and they will love him for it.
Lucilla: Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once, make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him.
Gracchus: I do not pretend to be a man of the people. But I do try to be a man for the people.
Lucilla: Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.
We who are about to die salute you!
Lucilla: Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once, make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him.
Gracchus: I do not pretend to be a man of the people. But I do try to be a man for the people.
Lucilla: Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.
We who are about to die salute you!
View Quote
Quintus: Maximus? Maximus?
Maximus: Quintus, free my men. Senator Gracchus is to be reinstated. There was a dream, that was Rome. It shall be realized. These are the wishes of Marcus Aurelius.
Maximus: Quintus, free my men. Senator Gracchus is to be reinstated. There was a dream, that was Rome. It shall be realized. These are the wishes of Marcus Aurelius.
View Quote
Quintus: People should know when they are conquered.
Maximus: Would you, Quintus? Would I?
Maximus: Would you, Quintus? Would I?
View Quote
[Proximo explains the story of his gladiator career]
Proximo: He [Marcus Aurelius] touched me on the shoulder, I was free.
Maximus: [laughs wildly] You knew Marcus Aurelius –
Proximo: I didn't say I knew him, I said he touched me on the shoulder once!
Proximo: He [Marcus Aurelius] touched me on the shoulder, I was free.
Maximus: [laughs wildly] You knew Marcus Aurelius –
Proximo: I didn't say I knew him, I said he touched me on the shoulder once!
View Quote
Maximus: Do you find it difficult to do your duty?
Cicero: Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to.
Cicero: Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to.
View Quote
Lucilla: I want to help you.
Maximus: Yes, you can help me. Forget you ever knew me, never come back here again.
Maximus: Yes, you can help me. Forget you ever knew me, never come back here again.
View Quote
Marcus: You have proved your valor yet again, Maximus. Let us hope for the last time.
Maximus: There is no one left to fight, sire.
Marcus: There is always someone left to fight. How can I reward Rome's greatest general?
Maximus: Let me go home.
Marcus: Ah, home.
Maximus: There is no one left to fight, sire.
Marcus: There is always someone left to fight. How can I reward Rome's greatest general?
Maximus: Let me go home.
Marcus: Ah, home.
View Quote
Gracchus: He enters Rome like a conquering hero. But what has he conquered?
Falco: Give him time, Gracchus. He's young, he think he can do very well.
Gracchus: For Rome? Or for you?
Falco: Give him time, Gracchus. He's young, he think he can do very well.
Gracchus: For Rome? Or for you?
View Quote
Marcus: When was the last time you were home?
Maximus: Two years, two hundred and sixty-four days and this morning.
Maximus: Two years, two hundred and sixty-four days and this morning.
View Quote
Maximus: What will you have me do, Caesar?
Marcus: I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you, to one end alone, to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it. Pause Will you accept this great honor that I have offered you?
Maximus: With all my heart, no.
Marcus: Maximus, that is why it must be you.
Marcus: I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you, to one end alone, to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it. Pause Will you accept this great honor that I have offered you?
Maximus: With all my heart, no.
Marcus: Maximus, that is why it must be you.
View Quote
[After Maximus' team defeats the Scipio Africanus legionnaires]
Commodus: My history's a little bit hazy Cassius, but didn't the barbarians lose the Battle of Carthage?
Cassius: Yes, sire. I'm sorry, sire.
Commodus: Who is that man? [refers to Maximus]
Cassius: They call him "The Spaniard", sire.
Commodus: I think I'll meet him.
Commodus: My history's a little bit hazy Cassius, but didn't the barbarians lose the Battle of Carthage?
Cassius: Yes, sire. I'm sorry, sire.
Commodus: Who is that man? [refers to Maximus]
Cassius: They call him "The Spaniard", sire.
Commodus: I think I'll meet him.
View Quote
Commodus: The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Striking story! But now, the people want to know how the story ends. Only a famous death will do. And what could be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena?
Maximus: You would fight me?
Commodus: Why not? Do you think I am afraid?
Maximus: I think you've been afraid all your life.
Commodus: Unlike Maximus the invincible, who knows no fear?
Maximus: I knew a man who once said: "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back."
Commodus: I wonder, did your friend smile at his own death?
Maximus: You must know. He was your father.
Commodus: You loved my father, I know. But so did I. That makes us brothers, doesn't it? Smile for me now, brother! [Commodus stabs him in the back]
Maximus: You would fight me?
Commodus: Why not? Do you think I am afraid?
Maximus: I think you've been afraid all your life.
Commodus: Unlike Maximus the invincible, who knows no fear?
Maximus: I knew a man who once said: "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back."
Commodus: I wonder, did your friend smile at his own death?
Maximus: You must know. He was your father.
Commodus: You loved my father, I know. But so did I. That makes us brothers, doesn't it? Smile for me now, brother! [Commodus stabs him in the back]
View Quote
Maximus: You ask me what I want. I too want to stand before the Emperor as you did.
Proximo: Then listen to me. Learn from me. I wasn't the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd. And you will win your freedom.
Maximus: I will win the crowd. I will give them something they have never seen before.
Proximo: Then listen to me. Learn from me. I wasn't the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd. And you will win your freedom.
Maximus: I will win the crowd. I will give them something they have never seen before.
View Quote
Proximo: What do you want? Hmm? Girl? Boy?
Maximus: You sent for me?
Proximo: Yes, I did. You're good, Spaniard, but not that good. You could be magnificent.
Maximus: I'm required to kill, so I kill. That is enough.
Proximo: That's enough for the provinces, but not for Rome.
Maximus: You sent for me?
Proximo: Yes, I did. You're good, Spaniard, but not that good. You could be magnificent.
Maximus: I'm required to kill, so I kill. That is enough.
Proximo: That's enough for the provinces, but not for Rome.
View Quote
Commodus: They embrace me as one of their own. The people are my children and I am their father.
Gracchus: Have you ever embraced someone dying of plague, sire?
Commodus: [turns to face him slowly] No. But if you interrupt me again, I assure you that you shall.
Gracchus: Have you ever embraced someone dying of plague, sire?
Commodus: [turns to face him slowly] No. But if you interrupt me again, I assure you that you shall.
View Quote
Gracchus: But the Senate is the people, sire. Chosen from among the people, to speak for the people.
Commodus: I doubt if any of the people eat so well as you, Gracchus. Or have such splendid mistresses, Gaius.
Commodus: I doubt if any of the people eat so well as you, Gracchus. Or have such splendid mistresses, Gaius.