Ben-Hur Quotes
Sheik Ilderim : You think you can treat my horses like animals? Give me those reins! Bonehead!
Movie: Ben-Hur
Miriam : [ hesitating before leaving the cave that has been her home ] I'm afraid.
Esther : [ embracing her in encouragement ] No cause. The world is more than we know.
Esther : [ embracing her in encouragement ] No cause. The world is more than we know.
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Messala : Sextus, you ask how to fight an idea. Well I'll tell you how... with another idea!
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Judah Ben-Hur : He gave me water, and the heart to live. What has he done to merit this?
Balthasar : He has taken the world of our sins onto Himself. To this end He said He was born, in that stable, where I first saw Him. For this cause, He came into the world.
Judah Ben-Hur : For this death?
Balthasar : For this beginning.
Balthasar : He has taken the world of our sins onto Himself. To this end He said He was born, in that stable, where I first saw Him. For this cause, He came into the world.
Judah Ben-Hur : For this death?
Balthasar : For this beginning.
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Tiberius Caesar : [ Tiberius Caesar sees Judah Ben-Hur, in Arrius' chariot ] This man riding beside you, who is he?
Quintus Arrius : The man who saved me, divine Emperor, to return and serve you.
Tiberius Caesar : Is that all you know of him?
Quintus Arrius : No. He was accused of an attack on the governor of Judea. But he was innocent.
Tiberius Caesar : If not, there is a strange inconsistency in this man, who tries to kill my governor, yet saves the life of my Consul. Come tomorrow, and we will talk of him.
Quintus Arrius : The man who saved me, divine Emperor, to return and serve you.
Tiberius Caesar : Is that all you know of him?
Quintus Arrius : No. He was accused of an attack on the governor of Judea. But he was innocent.
Tiberius Caesar : If not, there is a strange inconsistency in this man, who tries to kill my governor, yet saves the life of my Consul. Come tomorrow, and we will talk of him.
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Judah Ben-Hur : If I cannot persuade them, that does not mean I will help you... *murder* them. Besides, you must understand this, Messala. I believe in the past of my people, *and* in their future.
Messala : Future? You are a conquered people!
Judah Ben-Hur : You may conquer the land; you may slaughter the people. But that is not the end. We will rise again.
Messala : Future? You are a conquered people!
Judah Ben-Hur : You may conquer the land; you may slaughter the people. But that is not the end. We will rise again.
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Messala : Look to the West, Judah! Don't be a fool, look to Rome!
Judah Ben-Hur : I would rather be a fool than a traitor... or a killer!
Messala : I am a soldier!
Judah Ben-Hur : Yes! Who kills! For Rome! Rome is evil!
Messala : I warn you...
Judah Ben-Hur : No! I warn you! Rome is an affront to God! Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth! But not forever. I tell you the day Rome falls there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before!
Judah Ben-Hur : I would rather be a fool than a traitor... or a killer!
Messala : I am a soldier!
Judah Ben-Hur : Yes! Who kills! For Rome! Rome is evil!
Messala : I warn you...
Judah Ben-Hur : No! I warn you! Rome is an affront to God! Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth! But not forever. I tell you the day Rome falls there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before!
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Quintus Arrius : [ startled from sleep to find Ben-Hur standing over him ] Why are you here?
Judah Ben-Hur : I was ordered to report to you during my relief.
Quintus Arrius : Yes, I had forgotten... You could have killed me as I lay there! You're a condemned man, why didn't you?
Judah Ben-Hur : I'm not ready to die.
Quintus Arrius : What do you think will save you?
Judah Ben-Hur : The God of my fathers.
Quintus Arrius : Your God has forsaken you. He has no more power than the images I pray to. My gods do not help me; your God will not help you.
Judah Ben-Hur : I was ordered to report to you during my relief.
Quintus Arrius : Yes, I had forgotten... You could have killed me as I lay there! You're a condemned man, why didn't you?
Judah Ben-Hur : I'm not ready to die.
Quintus Arrius : What do you think will save you?
Judah Ben-Hur : The God of my fathers.
Quintus Arrius : Your God has forsaken you. He has no more power than the images I pray to. My gods do not help me; your God will not help you.
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[ on Arrius' orders, Judah is left unlocked for the upcoming battle; Judah touches his unchained ankle, bewildered ]
Rower No. 42 : Forty-one, why did he do that?
Judah Ben-Hur : I don't know. [ remembering Nazareth ]
Judah Ben-Hur : Once before, a man helped me. I didn't know why then.
Rower No. 42 : Forty-one, why did he do that?
Judah Ben-Hur : I don't know. [ remembering Nazareth ]
Judah Ben-Hur : Once before, a man helped me. I didn't know why then.
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Neighbor : You're not watching the soldiers, Joseph?
Joseph : We've seen Romans before.
Neighbor : Yes. And we will see them again. [ the neighbor examines some boards which have not been assembled ]
Neighbor : My table is not finished. Where is your son?
Joseph : He's walking in the hills.
Neighbor : [ disapproving ] Mm-hm. He neglects his work, Joseph.
Joseph : No. Once I reproached him with forgetting his work. He said to me, "I must be about my Father's business."
Neighbor : Then why isn't he here, working?
Joseph : [ smiling ] He's working.
Joseph : We've seen Romans before.
Neighbor : Yes. And we will see them again. [ the neighbor examines some boards which have not been assembled ]
Neighbor : My table is not finished. Where is your son?
Joseph : He's walking in the hills.
Neighbor : [ disapproving ] Mm-hm. He neglects his work, Joseph.
Joseph : No. Once I reproached him with forgetting his work. He said to me, "I must be about my Father's business."
Neighbor : Then why isn't he here, working?
Joseph : [ smiling ] He's working.
Movie: Ben-Hur
[ Judah, Esther, Miriam and Tirzah enter the city to find it deserted except for a blind beggar ]
Judah Ben-Hur : [ to Blind Man ] Why are the streets deserted?
Blind Man : They have gone to the trial. Alms for the blind?
Judah Ben-Hur : Trial? Whose trial?
Blind Man : The young rabbi from Nazareth. They are wanting his death.
Esther : It cannot be true!
Blind Man : [ holding out his cup ] Alms?
Judah Ben-Hur : What has he done?
Blind Man : Nothing I know of. For the blind? For the blind? Help for the blind? [ Judah drops a coin in his cup ]
Judah Ben-Hur : [ to Blind Man ] Why are the streets deserted?
Blind Man : They have gone to the trial. Alms for the blind?
Judah Ben-Hur : Trial? Whose trial?
Blind Man : The young rabbi from Nazareth. They are wanting his death.
Esther : It cannot be true!
Blind Man : [ holding out his cup ] Alms?
Judah Ben-Hur : What has he done?
Blind Man : Nothing I know of. For the blind? For the blind? Help for the blind? [ Judah drops a coin in his cup ]
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[ Christ passes, bearing the cross ]
Esther : How can this be?
Judah Ben-Hur : [ shocked ] I *know* this man! [ Jesus stumbles and is whipped by the centurions ]
Miriam : [ pleading ] Won't someone help him? [ Jesus is whipped again ]
Tirzah : Have pity on him!
Miriam : [ wonderingly ] In his pain... there's a look of peace.
Judah Ben-Hur : Watch over them, Esther. [ he goes after Jesus ]
Miriam : We must go back.
Esther : [ sadly ] I brought you here to this... when I hoped...
Miriam : [ looking after Christ ] You haven't failed, Esther.
Esther : How can this be?
Judah Ben-Hur : [ shocked ] I *know* this man! [ Jesus stumbles and is whipped by the centurions ]
Miriam : [ pleading ] Won't someone help him? [ Jesus is whipped again ]
Tirzah : Have pity on him!
Miriam : [ wonderingly ] In his pain... there's a look of peace.
Judah Ben-Hur : Watch over them, Esther. [ he goes after Jesus ]
Miriam : We must go back.
Esther : [ sadly ] I brought you here to this... when I hoped...
Miriam : [ looking after Christ ] You haven't failed, Esther.
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Judah Ben-Hur : [ after he is sentenced to the galleys ] May God grant me vengeance! I will pray that you live until I return!
Messala : [ ironically ] Return?
Messala : [ ironically ] Return?
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Messala : You're either for me or against me! You have no other choice.
Judah Ben-Hur : If that is the choice, then I am against you.
Judah Ben-Hur : If that is the choice, then I am against you.
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Sheik Ilderim : [ about his wives ] I've got six... no, seven.
Balthasar : I have counted eight, and that is because he is traveling. At home, he has more.
Balthasar : I have counted eight, and that is because he is traveling. At home, he has more.
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Judah Ben-Hur : You sent for me?
Pontius Pilate : I hope I bring you a good conclusion to your victory. I have a message for you from the consul, your father.
Judah Ben-Hur : I honor him.
Pontius Pilate : As you may honor yourself. You have been made a citizen of Rome. [ pause ]
Pontius Pilate : Do you say nothing to this?
Judah Ben-Hur : I have just come from the Valley of Stone where my mother and my sister live what's left of their lives. By Rome's will, lepers; outcasts without hope!
Pontius Pilate : I have heard this. There was great blame there, very deeply regretted.
Judah Ben-Hur : Their flesh is mine, m'lord Pilate. It already carries Rome's mark.
Pontius Pilate : Messala is dead. What he did has had its way with him.
Judah Ben-Hur : The deed was not Messala's. I knew him, well, before the cruelty of Rome spread in his blood. Rome destroyed Messala as surely as Rome has destroyed my family.
Pontius Pilate : Where there is greatness, great government or power, even great feeling or compassion, error also is great. We progress and mature by fault. But Rome has said she is ready to join your life to hers in a great future.
Judah Ben-Hur : There are other voices.
Pontius Pilate : The voice for instance of Arrius, waiting for you in Rome. He would tell you, if I may speak in his place, not to crucify yourself on a shadow such as old resentment or impossible loyalties. Perfect freedom has no existence. A grown man knows the world he lives in, and for the present, the world is Rome. Young Arrius, I am sure, will choose it.
Judah Ben-Hur : I am Judah Ben-Hur. [ long pause; Pilate turns and walks away a few steps, then gestures ]
Pontius Pilate : I crossed thi
Pontius Pilate : I hope I bring you a good conclusion to your victory. I have a message for you from the consul, your father.
Judah Ben-Hur : I honor him.
Pontius Pilate : As you may honor yourself. You have been made a citizen of Rome. [ pause ]
Pontius Pilate : Do you say nothing to this?
Judah Ben-Hur : I have just come from the Valley of Stone where my mother and my sister live what's left of their lives. By Rome's will, lepers; outcasts without hope!
Pontius Pilate : I have heard this. There was great blame there, very deeply regretted.
Judah Ben-Hur : Their flesh is mine, m'lord Pilate. It already carries Rome's mark.
Pontius Pilate : Messala is dead. What he did has had its way with him.
Judah Ben-Hur : The deed was not Messala's. I knew him, well, before the cruelty of Rome spread in his blood. Rome destroyed Messala as surely as Rome has destroyed my family.
Pontius Pilate : Where there is greatness, great government or power, even great feeling or compassion, error also is great. We progress and mature by fault. But Rome has said she is ready to join your life to hers in a great future.
Judah Ben-Hur : There are other voices.
Pontius Pilate : The voice for instance of Arrius, waiting for you in Rome. He would tell you, if I may speak in his place, not to crucify yourself on a shadow such as old resentment or impossible loyalties. Perfect freedom has no existence. A grown man knows the world he lives in, and for the present, the world is Rome. Young Arrius, I am sure, will choose it.
Judah Ben-Hur : I am Judah Ben-Hur. [ long pause; Pilate turns and walks away a few steps, then gestures ]
Pontius Pilate : I crossed thi
Movie: Ben-Hur
Centurion : There's a Jew outside. He wants to see the Tribune Messala.
Messala : I assume he has a name.
Centurion : [ sneeringly ] He says he's a prince, Prince Judah Ben-Hur.
Messala : [ loud and quickly ] Then treat him like one! [ quietly ]
Messala : Tell him I'll join him. [ the centurion starts to leave, and Messala shouts again ]
Messala : CENTURION! [ Again quietly ]
Messala : This was his country before it was ours. Don't forget that.
Centurion : Yes, Tribune. [ the centurion then goes out ]
Sextus : That was very wise. This Judah Ben-Hur is the son of one of the wealthiest families in Judea.
Messala : I assume he has a name.
Centurion : [ sneeringly ] He says he's a prince, Prince Judah Ben-Hur.
Messala : [ loud and quickly ] Then treat him like one! [ quietly ]
Messala : Tell him I'll join him. [ the centurion starts to leave, and Messala shouts again ]
Messala : CENTURION! [ Again quietly ]
Messala : This was his country before it was ours. Don't forget that.
Centurion : Yes, Tribune. [ the centurion then goes out ]
Sextus : That was very wise. This Judah Ben-Hur is the son of one of the wealthiest families in Judea.
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[ Quintas Arrius woke up, chained, on ship debris; the chain is held by Judah Ben-Hur ]
Quintus Arrius : Why did you save me?
Judah Ben-Hur : Why did you have me un-chained? [ they struggle briefly, Arrius is overpowered; he looks at the shackle on Judah's ankle ]
Quintus Arrius : What is your name, forty-one?
Judah Ben-Hur : Judah Ben-Hur.
Quintus Arrius : Judah Ben-Hur. Let me die.
Judah Ben-Hur : [ echoing Arrius' words to the galley slaves ] We keep you alive to serve this ship. Row well, and live.
Quintus Arrius : Why did you save me?
Judah Ben-Hur : Why did you have me un-chained? [ they struggle briefly, Arrius is overpowered; he looks at the shackle on Judah's ankle ]
Quintus Arrius : What is your name, forty-one?
Judah Ben-Hur : Judah Ben-Hur.
Quintus Arrius : Judah Ben-Hur. Let me die.
Judah Ben-Hur : [ echoing Arrius' words to the galley slaves ] We keep you alive to serve this ship. Row well, and live.
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Judah Ben-Hur : [ as Judah Ben-Hur hugs Simonides, in friendship ] Simonides. [ This is also the only time Simonides' name is verbally mentioned, during the movie ]
Judah Ben-Hur : .
Judah Ben-Hur : .
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Jesus: Hate, anger, fear. Those are lies they use to turn you against each other. When you set aside the hate they force you to carry, that's when you know love is our true nature.
Movie: Ben-Hur
[from trailer, at start line] Messala Severus: You should have stayed away.
Judah Ben-Hur: You should have killed me.
Messala Severus: I will. [chariot race begins]
Judah Ben-Hur: You should have killed me.
Messala Severus: I will. [chariot race begins]
Movie: Ben-Hur