The Man in the Iron Mask 1998 quotes

61 quotes · 7 characters
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) poster
Characters
Aramis Jeremy Irons · 19 quotes
Athos John Malkovich · 16 quotes
D'Artagnan Gabriel Byrne · 14 quotes
Porthos Gérard Depardieu · 11 quotes
Lt. André Edward Atterton · 3 quotes

Most scenes together: Aramis & Athos (5), Aramis & Porthos (5), Aramis & D'Artagnan (3)

The Man in the Iron Mask quotes

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"My friend", returned Porthos sententiously, "there is always time when one chooses to find it".

Advisor

There are riots in Paris.

Riots? But Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Why should my people feel anything but pride and contentment?

Advisor

Well, I'm sure they are content - and proud - but they are also starving.

D'Artagnan... They're young Musketeers. They've been weaned on our legends. They revere us. It is an advantage.

Yes. Why don't we charge them?

I trained these men. They will fight to the death. But if we must die - if we must die - let it be like this.

[He draws his sword and points it at the floor. Aramis, Porthos, and Athos, join their swords with his]

One for all. All for one.

Louis has ordered me to discover the true identity of the General of the Jesuit order and to kill him.

You should let the secret general worry about that.

Problem is that I am he.

Perhaps you should take his offer. We're dead anyway.

He's right, D'Artagnan.

Wait. Bargain me to Louis for all your lives. You've done your best. Please let me go.

No, I cannot do it. Even if I could give up my king, I could never give up my son.

[they all look at him, thunderstruck]

Your son?

I loved your mother. I love her still. You are my son. I never knew you existed. And I never felt pride as a father. Until this moment.

We're offering you a chance...to be king.

No. You're offering me a chance to pretend to be king. A king that you hate.

When we were young men and we saw injustice, we fought it.

Now we know that some problems cannot be solved with a sword.

And some cannot be solved without one.

No, wait. With a king it is so. [pinches the goblet between thumb and forefinger] Servants have touched the goblet of the King, therefor he will touch it as little as possible. Again.

[Phillippe tries it and the goblet slips from his fingers, crashing onto his plate and spilling onto everything]

I am sorry!

No. No! Do not be sorry! There are no mistakes when you are the King! You must never apologize. The King cares for nothing and for no one.

Is that the kind of king you wish me to be? Or do you say this to me because your son is dead?

[Athos is silent, he shoves back from the table and turns away]

Forgive me, I would never mean to disrespect...

I am not... I am not angry with you. Do you understand? Good. Of course we wish you to be a good king. But first you must pass as Louis, and Louis is cold and cruel. The eyes of this King say that he cares for nothing at all but himself. Your eyes ask too much. You shouldn't care about... about me... you shouldn't care... [his voice breaks] You mustn't ask about my son...

What gives you the right to judge me, to play God with the lives of others? Is it because you're so much holier than everyone else?

Well yes, there is that. But also because I'm more intelligent than anybody else.

Christine

I shall burn in Hell. So will you.

No, no my love. You shall burn in hell. But I will not. For I am King... ordained by God!

You cannot ask me to betray my king. I have sworn an oath.

When a king is dishonorable, you are removed from your oath of honor.

An oath is an oath precisely because it cannot be removed.

Why do you follow him, D'Artagnan? Why? What we fought for is greater than king or rank or reward! What do you fight for now?

I fight for the belief that every man can be better, even Louis.

I hear there was an incident at the Musketeers' gate, where a man came intent on killing me. Is it our policy now to let would-be assassins go free, d'Artagnan?

He wished to kill his own pain. His son is dead. I can think of nothing worse.

What about losing your king?

That depends on the king

Who is that?

Francois

Raoul, son of Athos.

Francois, your tastes may run to young soldiers, but I was referring to the beauty next to him.

Francois

Her name is Christine.