Achilles [to Agamemnon]
Imagine a king who fights his own battles. Wouldn't that be a sight.
Played by Brad Pitt 
Troy (2004) · 116 quotes
Troy (2004) · 116 quotes
Most-quoted character in Troy (2004): in 44 of its 116 quotes
Most scenes with: Odysseus (5), Briseis (5), Priam (4)
Myrmidons! My brothers of the sword! I would rather fight beside you than any army of thousands! Let no man forget how menacing we are! We are lions! Do you know what's there, waiting beyond those walls? Immortality! Take It! It's Yours!
More lines from Achilles
20 quotes Achilles Achilles [after slaying Boagrius]
Is there no one else? IS THERE NO ONE ELSE?!
Achilles [to Agamemnon]
Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile.
Achilles [to Hector]
We will meet again, brother.
Achilles [to Briseis]
You are free. If I hurt you, it's not what I wanted. Go, no one will stop you. You have my word.
Achilles [to Briseis]
Trojan soldiers died protecting you. Perhaps they deserve more than your pity.
Achilles [to Briseis]
You gave me peace in a lifetime of war.
Achilles [Hector trips on a rock]
Get up, Prince of Troy! Get up! I won't let a stone take my glory!
Achilles [to Priam]
You're a far better king than the one leading this army.
Achilles [to Hector]
There are no pacts between lions and men.
Achilles [to Hector]
You won't have eyes tonight. You won't have ears or a tongue, you'll wander the underworld blind, deaf and dumb. And all the dead shall know; this is Hector, the fool who thought he killed Achilles!
Achilles [to Briseis]
I want what all men want. I just want it more.
Achilles [removing his helmet]
Now you know who you're fighting!
Achilles [to Briseis]
I'll tell you a secret. Something they don't teach you in your temple. The Gods envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful BECAUSE we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now, and we will never be here again.
Achilles We men are wretched things.
Achilles At night, I see their faces. All the men I've killed. They're standing there on the far bank of the river Styx, waiting for me. They say "Welcome brother."
Achilles [to Briesis]
You don't fear me, girl? You're the only Trojan I know who doesn't.
Achilles Greece got along fine before I was born, and Greece will be Greece long after I'm gone.
Achilles It's too early in the day for killing princes.
Achilles [outside the walls of Troy shouting to Hector]
HECTOR!! HECTOOOOOR! HECTOR!!!!
Scenes with Achilles
23 scenes
Fight me!
Achilles Why kill you now, Prince of Troy, with no one here to see you fall?
Am I still your captive?
Achilles You're my guest.
In Troy, guests can leave whenever they want.
Achilles You should leave then.
But this is a war! You'd betray all of Greece just to see Agamemnon fall?!
Achilles Someone has to lose.
Achilles Patroclus, put down your spear.
I'm fighting the Trojans.
Achilles Not today.
But I'm ready, you taught me how to fight!
Achilles And you're a good student, but you're not a Myrmidon yet. Look at these men. They are the fiercest warriors in all of Greece. Each of them has bled for me. You will guard the ship.
But this is a war!
Achilles Cousin, I can't fight the Trojans if I'm concerned for you. Guard the ship.
A great victory was won today, but that victory was not yours. Kings did not kneel to Achilles. Kings did not pay homage to Achilles.
Achilles Perhaps the kings were too far behind to see; the soldiers won the battle.
History remembers kings, not soldiers! Tomorrow we'll batter down the gates of Troy and I will build monuments for victory on every island of Greece; I'll carve "Agamemnon" in the stone!
Achilles Be careful, King of Kings. First you need the victory.
Achilles [about Hector's body]
If I let you walk out of here, if I let you take him, it changes nothing. You're still my enemy in the morning.
And you're still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect.
Achilles Go home, prince. Drink some wine, make love to your wife. Tomorrow, we'll have our war.
You speak of war as if it's a game. But how many wives wait at Troy's gates for husbands they'll never see again?
Achilles Perhaps your brother can comfort them. I hear he's good at charming other men's wives.
You lost your cousin, and now you have taken mine. Where does it end?
Achilles It never ends.
Messenger Boy Are the stories true? They say your mother was an immortal goddess. They say you can't be killed.
Achilles I wouldn't be bothering with the shield then, would I?
Messenger Boy The Thesselonian you're fighting... he's the biggest man i've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him.
Achilles Thats why no-one will remember your name.
Achilles If you sailed any slower the war would be over.
I don't mind missing the start as long as I'm here at the end.
Why did you choose this life?
Achilles What life?
To be a great warrior.
Achilles I chose nothing. I was born and this is what I am.
Achilles Imagine a king who fights his own battles. Wouldn't that be a sight? [goes to fight Boagrius]
Of all the warlords loved by the gods, I hate him the most.
I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday, and I wish it had been you. But I gave the dead boy the honor he deserved.
Achilles You gave him the honor of your sword! You won't have eyes tonight, you won't have ears or a tongue. You will wander the underworld blind, deaf, and dumb, and all the dead will know...this is Hector: the fool who thought he killed Achilles.
I have endured what no one on earth has endured. I have kissed the hands of the man who killed my son.
Achilles Priam?
We need you. Greece needs you.
Achilles Greece got along fine before I was born. And Greece will be Greece long after I am gone.
Would you leave this all behind?
Achilles Would you leave Troy?
Achilles You were brave to fight them.
To fight back when men attack me? A dog has that kind of courage.
Achilles He killed my cousin!
He thought it was you. How many cousins have you killed? How many fathers and brothers and sons and husbands, how many, brave Achilles?
Achilles I told you how to fight but I never told you why to fight.
I fight for you.
Achilles Who will you fight for when I'm gone? Soldiers fight for kings they've never even met. They do what they're told to do, they die when they're told to die.
Soldiers obey.
Achilles Don't waste your life following some fool's orders.
Is Prince Hector a good a warrior as they say?
The best of all the Trojans. (looks at Achilles) Some say he's better than all the Greeks too. Even if your cousin doesn't come, I hope you'll join us Patroclus. We could use a strong arm like yours.
Achilles Play your tricks on me. But not on my cousin.
You have your swords. I have my tricks. We play with the toys the gods give us.
Achilles Things are less simple today.
Women have a way of complicating things.
The world seems simple to you, my friend. But when you're a king, very few choices are simple. Ithaca cannot afford an enemy like Agamemnon.
Achilles Am I supposed to fear him?
You don't fear anyone, that's your problem. Fear is useful. Stay, Achilles. You were born for this war.
Achilles My life is war. Is that what you think?
Am I wrong?
Achilles A week ago you were right. But things are less simple today.
Women have a way of complicating things.
Achilles Of all the kings of Greece, I respect you most. But in this war you're a servant. And I refuse to be a servant any longer.
Sometimes you need to serve in order to lead. I hope you understand that one day.
Achilles Who are you?
[with tears in his eyes]
I have endured what no one on earth has endured before. I kissed the hands of the man who killed my son.
Achilles [realizes who his is, stands abruptly]
Priam? How did you get in here?
I know my country better than the Greeks, I think.
Achilles [walks forward, lifts Priam]
You are a brave man. I could have your head on a spit in the blink of an eye.
Do you really think death frightens me now? I watched my eldest son die, watched you drag his body behind your chariot. Give him back to me. He deserves the honor of a proper burial, you know that. Give him to me.
Achilles He killed my cousin.
He thought it was you. How many cousins have you killed? How many sons and fathers and brothers and husbands? How many, brave Achilles? I knew your father. He died before his time. But he was lucky not to live long enough to see his son fall. You've taken everything from me. My eldest son, heir to my throne, defender of my kingdom. I can't change what happened, it is the will of the gods. But give me this small mercy. I loved my boy from the moment he opened his eyes till the moment you closed them. Let me wash his body. Let me say the prayers. Let me place two coins on his eyes for the boatman.
Achilles [visibly moved]
If I let you walk out of here, if I let you take him, it doesn't change anything. You're still my enemy in the morning.
You're still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect.
