“Marcus Aurelius: There is one more duty that I ask of you before you go home. Maximus: What would you have me do Caesar? Marcus Aurelius: 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…”Tagged: caesar, Rome
“[Maximus enters Marcus’s darkened tent] Marcus Aurelius: Tell me again, Maximus, why are we here? Maximus: For the glory of the Empire, sire. Five thousand of my men are out there in the freezing mud. Three thousand of them are bloodied and cleaved. Two thousand will never leave this place. I will…”Tagged: Empire, Battle, glory, Rome
“[seeing his daughter Lucilla spying in through the slit in the tent wall] Marcus Aurelius: If only you had been born a man, what a Caesar you would have made. Lucilla: Father. [kisses him on his cheeks] Marcus Aurelius: You would have been strong. I wonder, would you have been just? Lucilla: I would…”Tagged: caesar, Politics, Fatherhood
“Maximus: Highness, when your father releases me I intend to return home. Commodus: Well, no one has earned it more. Don’t get too comfortable, I may call on you before long.”Tagged: Going Home, comfortable
“Quintus: Maximus the farmer. I still have difficulty imagining that. Maximus: You know dirt cleans off a lot easier than blood, Quintus.”Tagged: dirt, Blood, Farmer
“Commodus: Have I missed it? Have I missed the battle? [Commodus embraces him] Marcus Aurelius: You have missed the war. Commodus: Father, congratulations. I shall sacrifice a hundred bulls to honor your triumph. Marcus Aurelius: Save the bulls. Honor Maximus. He won the battle.”Tagged: Battle, War, Bulls, Triumph
“Marcus Aurelius: 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 Aurelius: There is always someone left to fight. How can I reward Rome’s greatest general? Maximus: Let me go home. Marcus Aurelius: Ah, home.”Tagged: Fighting, Going Home
“[to Quintus before the battle with Germanian troops begins] Strength and honor. [gets on his horse and addresses Quintus again] At my signal, unleash hell.”Tagged: strength, Honor, Hell
“Commodus: He’s made his decision. He’s going to announce it. He will name me. The first thing I shall do…well, is honor him with games worthy of his majesty. Lucilla: For now, the first thing I shall do is have a hot bath.”Tagged: decision, majesty
“[talking about their father Marcus Aurelius] Commodus: Do you think he’s really dying? Lucilla: He’s been dying for ten years.”Tagged: Death, Slow Death, Chronic Suicide
“[addressing his troops] Fratres! [cavalry addresses Maximus] Three weeks from now, I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you…”Tagged: Hold the Line, Eternity, Elysium
“Quintus: People should know when they are conquered. Maximus: Would you, Quintus? Would I?”Tagged: Conquered, Conquest, Self-awareness
“Maximus: Lean and hungry. Still nothing? Quintus: Not a sign. Maximus: How long has he been gone? Quintus: Nearly two hours. Valerius: Will they fight, sir? Maximus: We shall know soon enough.”Tagged: lean, Hungry, Anticipation, Fight