Tiberius quotes from Caligula (1979)

View Quote I am nursing a viper in Rome's bosom.

View Quote When Rome was just a city, we were just citizens, known to one another, you see. We were frugal, good, disciplined and dignified. The Romans I rule are not what they were. They lust. They lust for power and pleasure, money, the wives of other men. Oh yes, I am a true moralist, and stern as any Cato. Fate chose me to govern swine. In my old age, I am become a swineherd.

View Quote Every senator believes himself to be a potential Caesar. Therefore every senator is guilty of treason, in thought if not in deed. The senate is the natural enemy of any Caesar, "Little Boots". They offer to prove any law I made before I made it. I said: 'What if I go mad? What then?' No answer. They were born to be slaves.

View Quote Tiberius: Help me, Nerva. Help me transform this young barbarian into a Roman Caesar.
Nerva: There have been three Roman Caesars; Julius, Augustus and yourself. Which do you want him to be?
Tiberius: The best.
Nerva: That would be your father Augustus.
Tiberius: You see, Caligula? I'm insulted to my face.

View Quote Tiberius: I'm old.
Caligula: Yes, lord. But you will live forever.
Tiberius: All my family are dead but you, the child Gemellus, and that Claudius, that uncle. They were struck down by fate, and it is fate, "Little Boots", that rules us, not any god.
Caligula: You are a god, lord.
Tiberius: No I'm not, not even when I am dead.
Caligula: Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar, they are gods.
Tiberius: So say the senate, and so the people prefer to believe. Such myths are useful.

View Quote Tiberius: Serve the state, Caligula, although the people in it are wicked beasts.
Caligula: But they love you, lord.
Tiberius: No, they fear me, and that is much better. I have no choice, you see. No choice.
Caligula: No choice?
Tiberius: All I wanted was private life. I did not truly want to become emperor, but I had to.
Caligula: Had to?
Tiberius: If someone else had become emperor, I would have been killed, as you will be.

View Quote Tiberius: [seeing Nerva has cut his wrists] Cretins... why did you permit him to do it? Bind his wrists... BIND HIS WRISTS! [to Nerva] You must not go, you must not leave me, you are my friend, my only friend.
Nerva: I've lived too long, Tiberius, I hate my life.
Tiberius: [to the slaves] Leave us! Both of you!
Nerva: For a man to choose the hour of his own death is the closest he will ever come to tricking fate, and fate decrees that when you die, Macro will kill me.
Tiberius: I'll arrest him and have him executed.
Nerva: You can't. He controls you. [Looks at Caligula] Anyway, even with Macro dead, how could I go on living with this reptile?
Tiberius: [To Caligula] You will respect my friend always, won't you, reptile?
Caligula: I've always respected him, lord.
Tiberius: [To Nerva] You hear?
Nerva: Tiberius, you were wise once.
Tiberius: Ah, don't taunt me. I am old.
Nerva: I've watched you grow into a monster! One by one, I've seen you murder your whole family, your friends, the noblest men in Rome.
Caligula: That is treason!
Nerva: No, it's the truth.
Tiberius: I am and I always have been surrounded by enemies. In my own family, in the senate... You are cruel!
Nerva: No, honest. Old men can sometimes see the future. So, from evils past, and the evils yet to come, I now choose to escape.