Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt The only person with whom I felt any kinship with died three hundred years before the birth of Christ. Alexander of Macedonia, or Alexander the Great, as you know him.
Played by Matthew Goode 
Watchmen (2009) · 68 quotes
Watchmen (2009) · 68 quotes
Tied for 4th most-quoted character in Watchmen (2009): in 10 of its 68 quotes
Most scenes with: Rorschach/Walter Kovacs (3), Nite Owl II/Dan Dreiberg (2)
I'm not a comic book villain. Do you seriously think I'd explain my masterstroke to you if there were even the slightest possibility you could affect the outcome? I triggered it 35 minutes ago.
More lines from Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt
6 quotes Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt Well, it was unprecedented. I wanted... needed to match his accomplishments, and so I resolved to apply antiquity's teaching to our world, today. And so began my path to conquest. Conquest not of men, but of the evils that beset them.
Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt What, in life, does not deserve celebrating? This is the new Karnak. This represents the culmination of a dream more than 2000 years old. A dream now assured because of your unquestioning assistance. And for this, I am ashamed. Ashamed that you must now share such inadequate a reward. To the pharaohs. Their greatest secrets entrusted to their servants. Buried alive with them in sand-floored chambers. Sleep well, gentlemen. Our new, peaceful world will be indebted to your great sacrifice. Bubastis.
Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt Dan, grow up. My new world demands less obvious heroism. Your schoolboy heroics are redundant. What have they achieved? Failing to prevent Earth's salvation is your only triumph.
Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt Of course, my moral safeguards gave me pause at the necessary sacrifice. A few key regions around the globe - New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, Hong Kong - disintegrated in an instant. Fifteen million people killed by Dr. Manhattan himself. The world's punishment for flirting with World War III.
Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt You see, the Comedian was right. Humanity's savage nature will inevitably lead to global annihilation. So in order to save this planet, I had to trick it. With the greatest practical joke in human history.
Scenes with Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt
3 scenes
This is all bullshit.
Ozymandias You know, for a guy who calls himself "The Comedian", I can never tell when you're joking.
"Watchmen". That's the real joke. It didn't work fifteen years ago, it sure as hell ain't gonna work now just 'cause you wanna keep playing Cowboys and Indians.
Maybe we should agree on "no drinking at meetings"? [Comedian snorts] Look, Rorschach and I have made real headway on the gang problem by working together.
With a group this size, it seems like a publicity stunt. [pointedly] Not in it for the ink.
Ozymandias We can do so much more. We can save this world. [the Comedian scoffs; Ozymandias looks at him pointedly] With the right leadership.
And that'd be you, right, Ozzy? I mean, hell, you're the smartest man on the planet.
Ozymandias It doesn't take a genius to see the world has problems.
Yeah, but it takes a room full of morons to think they're small enough for you to handle. You people, you hear Moloch's back in town, you get your panties all in a bunch... You think catching him matters?
[laughs]
Justice? Justice is coming for all of us, no matter what the **** we do. You know, mankind's been trying to kill each other off since the beginning of time; now, we finally have the power to finish the job. Ain't nothing gonna matter once those nukes start flying, we'll all be dust. [sets light to a display of the United States] And Ozymandias here will be the smartest man on the cinder. [walks away, laughing]
Adrian Of course, my moral safeguards gave me pause at the necessary sacrifice. A few key regions around the globe... New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, Hong Kong. Disintegrated in an instant. Fifteen million people killed... by Dr. Manhattan himself. The world's punishment for flirting with World War III.
Jon wouldn't do that.
Adrian A fact no one outside this room ever has to know. The energy breakthrough I was working on just came to fruition. All these years, Jon was helping me replicate his power, unaware of how I planned to use it. You see, the Comedian was right. Humanity's savage nature will inevitably lead to global annihilation. So in order to save this planet, I had to trick it with the greatest practical joke in human history. Killing millions, to save billions. A necessary crime.
You know we can't let you do that.
Adrian "Do that", Rorschach? I'm not a comic-book villain. Do you seriously think I'd explain my masterstroke to you if there were even the slightest possibility you could affect the outcome? I triggered it thirty-five minutes ago.
Adrian [Nixon finishes his speech on Veidt's TVs]
Do you see? It's your super powers retreating from war. I've saved the Earth from hell. We both have. This is as much your victory as it is mine. Now we can return. Do what we were meant to.
We were meant to exact justice! Everyone's gonna know what you've done...
Adrian Will they? By exposing me, you would sacrifice the peace so many died for today.
Peace based on a lie.
Adrian But peace! Nonetheless.
...He's right. Exposing Adrian would only doom the world to nuclear destruction again.
No... we can't do this.
On Mars, you taught me the value of life. If we hope to preserve it here, we must remain silent.
Keep your own secrets...
[The others look as Rorschach leaves, then Jon and Adrian make eye contact]
Don't even think about it. [goes after Rorschach] Rorschach! Wait!
[turns]
Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. That's always been the difference between us, Daniel. [leaves the building]
Adrian I've made myself feel every death... see every innocent face I've murdered to save humanity. [turns to Jon] You understand, don't you?
Without condoning... or condemning. I understand.
