Ben-Hur (1959) · 28 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Ben-Hur (1959): in 6 of its 28 quotes
Most scenes with: Judah Ben-Hur (2)
It's an insane world, but in it there's one sanity, the loyalty of old friends. Judah, we must believe in one another.
Messala Be wise, Judah. It's a Roman world. If you want to live in it, you must become part of it...I tell you, Judah, it's no accident that one small village on the Tiber was chosen to rule the world...It wasn't just our legions...No, it was fate that chose us to civilize the world - and we have. Our roads and our ships connect every corner of the earth, Roman law, architecture, literature are the glory of the human race.
Messala I wanted your help. Now you have given it to me. By making this example of you, I discourage treason. By condemning, without hesitation, an old friend, I shall be feared.
Sextus You can break a man's skull. You can arrest him. You can throw him into a dungeon. But how do you fight an idea?
Messala Sextus, you ask how to fight an idea. Well, I'll tell you how... with another idea!
I would do anything for you, Messala... except betray my own people.
Messala In the name of all the gods, Judah, what do the lives of a few Jews mean to you?
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.
You may conquer the land; you may slaughter the people. But that is not the end; we will rise again.
Messala You live on dead dreams; you live on the myths of the past. The glory of Solomon is gone and you think it will return?. Joshua will not rise again to save you nor David. There is only one reality in the world today. Look to the West, Judah! Don't be a fool, look to Rome!
I would rather be a fool than a traitor... or a killer!
Messala I am a soldier!
Yes! Who kills! For Rome! And Rome is evil!
Messala I warn you...
No! I warn you! Rome is an affront to God! Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth! But not forever. And I tell you the day Rome falls there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before!
Messala Judah, either you help me or you oppose me, you have no other choice. You're either for me or against me!
If that is the choice, then I am against you.
Messala Triumph complete, Judah. The race won. The enemy destroyed.
I see no enemy.
Messala What do you think you see? The smashed body of a wretched animal! Is enough of a man still left here for you to hate? Let me help you...You think they're dead. Your mother and sister. Dead. And the race over. It isn't over, Judah. They're not dead.
Where are they? Where are they? Where are they?
Messala Look for them in the Valley of the Lepers, if you can recognize them. It goes on. It goes on, Judah. The race, the race is not over.
