Are You Not Entertained?! 25 Most Iconic Quotes From Gladiator

Summary

• Iconic
  Gladiator
  quotes have helped solidify the movie’s reputation as a cinematic achievement and are just as memorable as the big battle scenes.
• The dialogue in
  Gladiator
  is responsible for bringing the recreation of Rome to life and skillfully highlights the characters’ emotions and motivations while Ridley Scott’s epic unfolds.
• Many of the
  Gladiator
  quotes demonstrate the power of storytelling and how it can impact and shape the outcome of important events, even leading to the downfall of powerful adversaries.

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Many memorable Gladiator quotes have endured and helped the movie achieve an iconic status. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is one of the most epic historical dramas of all time, highlighting the glory of Rome at its peak. The cinematography, cast, and action scenes were Oscar-worthy as the film won Best Picture at the 2001 Academy Awards. However, it’s the quotes from characters that helped bring the recreation of Rome to life, with many incredible lines of dialogue solidifying Gladiator‘s reputation as an achievement of cinema.

More than two decades after achieving Oscar glory, Gladiator remains a movie that viewers keeping coming back to. A testament to its legacy, some of the best Gladiator quotes have become as memorable as the big battle scenes. Unforgettable lines delivered by the likes of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix range from inspiring sentiments to unsettling threats and everything in between. The dialogue is just as responsible as the epic combat scenes, with many Gladiator quotes showing that the cast of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 has big shoes to fill.

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25 “My Name Is Gladiator.”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

The reunion of Maximus (Russell Crowe) and Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) in Gladiator is one of the most memorable scenes from the movie. While Maximus’ speech when he finally reveals himself is iconic, his line before that is quite effective as well. When Commodus comes to meet the gladiator who led his fellow prisoners to victory, Maximus keeps his helmet on and when Commodus asks him his name, he growls back “My name is Gladiator.”

This Gladiator quote may not be as insightful or profound as some of the other lines that come in the movie, but there is no denying that it can send chills up the spines of the audience. It is not just about Maximus trying to hide his identity but also an insult to Commodus as the crowd watches. It also signifies that Commodus took everything from Maximus, with bloodlust being all that remains. However, he will use this persona as a gladiator, a man forced to fight to the death, to inspire the people of Rome and challenge Commodus.

24 “For You Are In Elysium And You’re Already Dead.”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

The opening battle in Gladiator kicks the movie off on a thrilling note. Maximus’ words to his soldiers highlight that these men have been at war most of their lives and death is not as much a concern to them as it is to others. Maximus gives this impassioned speech to his soldiers about the end of the war being in sight. Then he assures them if they find themselves alone in a field, they shouldn’t be afraid as it just means they’ve died and entered the afterlife.

The fact that the soldiers laugh and cheer at the comment shows how well Maximus knows his men and their willingness to laugh in the face of death. It cements Maximus and his soldiers as a truly formidable force of allies. However, the line also has a heartbreaking context later in the movie as Maximus continues having visions of his own family in a field, waiting for him to join them. Though not the most memorable line out of this epic early scene, it is a complex one to look back on.

23 “The General Who Became a Slave. The Slave Who Became a Gladiator. The Gladiator Who Defied An Emperor.”

Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix)

This Gladiator quote from Commodus is almost like a tagline for the movie, which can feel a little on the nose. However, it also reveals a lot about the villainous character rather than just serving as some obvious exposition. As the two old enemies meet for their final fight, Commodus mockingly describes the story of Gladiator‘s Maximus as told to the audience up to this point. It reminds the viewers of his impressive arc while also suggesting the tragedy that Maximus didn’t want any of this.

Maximus didn’t even want to be emperor when it was offered to him, but he still became an important figure in the future of Rome. While Commodus dismissively recites the story, it is clear that he also recognizes the power behind it. By speaking the words and showing what Maximus has achieved, it is as if Commodus is signaling his own death, fulfilling the end of Maximus’ story in bringing down the emperor he defied.

22 “Have I Missed The Battle?”

Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix)

Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-nominated performance as Commodus in Gladiator is an early sign of his incredible range as an actor. Commodus shows he has skill as a fighter, and he is an intimidating force when he has the power of Rome behind him. However, Phoenix does not shy away from making Commodus look weak and pathetic at times. When he arrives on the scene of the opening battle, Commodus asks excitedly if he has missed it to which his father responds, “You have missed the war.”

It is not an overly memorable line compared to the quotable dialogue in Gladiator, but it is a perfect line to help introduce the character of Commodus. The idea that Commodus would have made some difference in the fight is laughable and the only one not in on the joke is Commodus himself. It also serves as a bit of foreshadowing of his end, as Commodus is similarly eager to enter the arena against Maximus only to find himself ill-prepared for the fight.

21 “Maximus, That Is Why It Must Be You.”

Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris)

As effective as he is as a general and a gladiator, Maximus is a reluctant hero in Gladiator. He is a man with simple dreams and his only wish is to return to his family and home and be a farmer for the rest of his life. However, the rest of the world had bigger ambitions for him. When Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) attempts to name Maximus as his successor, Maximus immediately and profusely turns him down.

However, in a sobering Gladiator moment, Marcus tells him his reluctance shows he is the one man not looking for power and thus will be a fair and just ruler. It is a subtle line that can get lost in the early scenes of Gladiator yet packs an emotional punch. Even nowadays, the intelligence of this statement rings true. Those who seek power can be more easily corrupted in their path to achieving it, while those who have power thrust upon them may wield it more responsibly.

20 “You’re The Son That I Should Have Had.”

Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris)

As with many great epics, the essence of Gladiator‘s story comes down to the personal relationships between the characters. In its simplest form, the movie tells the story of Maximus, his surrogate father, and the jealous son. Marcus Aurelius is the emperor of Rome who chooses Maximus to lead when he is gone rather than his own son, Commodus. Aurelius sees Maximus as his true son and expresses his wish that this was actually the case, not just for himself but for the sake of Rome.

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With Aurelius gone from the movie so early, it is perhaps easier to forget some of his quotes in Gladiator. However, as with this one, they are filled with wisdom and intrigue. While there are hints that Aurelius was not a good father to his children, he now appears as a man filled with regret about what that means. He fears for his country in the hands of Commodus and sees Maximus as the man who should have carried on his legacy.

Despite Maximus’ reluctance to lead, the death of Aurelius does motivate him not just in revenge but to restore the Rome he hoped for.

19 “Take My Hand. I Only Offer It Once.”

Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix)

While he was a real-life figure in Rome, the depiction of Commodus in Gladiator is much more villainous than in reality. However, it makes for a very interesting dynamic between the movie’s hero and villain. Maximus is a man who deserves to rule but doesn’t want to, while Commodus is unfit to rule but feels he deserves it. Their battle throughout the story sees Commodus attempting to use his power to crush Maximus, who refuses to bend.

The first hint of their conflict speaks to this dynamic as Commodus offers his hand to Maximus after the death of Aurelius, which Maximus does not take. While it is another small line in the epic movie, it is a pivotal one that serves as a turning point. It is also interesting that based on how Commodus makes the offer, he clearly expects that Maximus will think about turning him down. It is fitting that his reign begins with this aggressive yet self-conscious act, which is largely how he rules.

18 “The Frost, It Sometimes Makes The Blade Stick.”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

The opening battle sequence shows the kind of warrior Maximus is, and he seems to have an unrivaled understanding of combat. However, an underrated line in the movie also shows that he is a keen fighter in more intimate scenarios, foreshadowing how effective he will be as a gladiator. When Commodus has him taken out into the forest to be executed, Maximus quickly shows how dangerous of an enemy the new emperor has made with this line.

After Maximus takes out one of the soldiers, the other man attempts to pull his sword but is unable. Maximus calmly explains the cold weather makes the blade stick before cutting the man down. If there is a fault with the line it is that it feels as though Maximus is speaking to the audience. He is explaining what has happened to the man’s sword rather than teasing a man he is about to slay, which would be uncharacteristic for him.

However, it is still a memorable quote, and the way Maximus doesn’t break a sweat and takes the time to explain his enemy’s downfall is a great action hero moment.

17 “Sometimes I Do What I Want To Do. The Rest Of The Time, I Do What I Have To.”

Cicero (Tommy Flanagan)

Rome is the memorable setting for Gladiator and was infamous for running its empire on the backs of slaves, whose population was mostly comprised of people they had conquered. Though not a slave, Maximus’ servant Cicero performed many tasks for the general, seemingly out of pure admiration and respect rather than servitude. Still, his explanation of how he lives his life not only solidifies Maximus’ course of action in accepting the Emperor’s offer to lead Romebut strikes a chord with working people everywhere.

Cicero is not a main character in Gladiator, yet the impact of his quote is profound in the rest of the movie. First, the fact that Maximus seeks his advice and that Cicero is honest with him shows the compassion of Maximus and the loyalty he inspires. However, Cicero’s words also get through to Maximus, reminding him that, regardless of what he wants, there is a path laid out for him and the duty he has to Rome.

16 “Would You, Quintus? Would I?”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

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This is another chilling line that gets forgotten amid the mayhem of the thrilling opening sequence. Upon Quintus musing that “People should know when they’re conquered,” Maximus has this pointedly profound response. Despite Maximus’ heroic and admirable traits, audiences shouldn’t forget that he was the instrument of an empire that gained its riches through conquest. Roman armies routinely spread out to subsume the lands around the Empire and increase their borders, decimating the people and cultures that inhabited them.

Despite his mission of conquest, Maximus empathized with the people he was sent to subdue, admiring their unquenchable desire to remain free and autonomous. This mirrored Maximus’ eventual quest to break the yoke of his own captivity and seek revenge against Commodus. It shows the spirit that was inside him all along. Even when relegated to a position as lowly as a gladiator, there is no chance that Maximus is not going to fight back with everything he has in him.

15 “When A Man Sees His End, He Wants To Know There Was Some Purpose To His Life.”

Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris)

Much of Gladiator‘s appeal can be safely chalked up to the multiple pearls of the age-old wisdom that emanated from the characters in almost every scene. Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations are a bedrock of stoic philosophy and have survived thousands of years to inspire readers of his works and developers of corporate motivational posters everywhere, so it is not surprising that he provides so many thought-provoking lines in the movie.

As soon as he is introduced in Gladiator, Aurelius is a man who understands he is not long for the world. As he sees his death approaching, he begins to contemplate the legacy he will leave behind, which becomes a big theme of the movie. Aurelius’ rumination as to his historical legacy is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as he’s one of the more widely renowned and favorably interpreted of the Roman Emperors.

14 “I Knew A Man Once Who Said, ‘Death Smiles At Us All. All A Man Can Do Is Smile Back.'”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

Maximus is a man of realism rather than fantasy. He can read a room or situation instantly, and a man just as well. Maximus knows before his showdown with Commodus that he won’t come out alive, but he knows that he does not view death in the same way that Commodus does. He has nothing to lose and wants his revenge, so he can afford to smile in the face of death, as he explains this quote to Commodus.

As memorable as the quote is, it has even more of an impact when Commodus asks if the man who said it smiled at his own death and Maximus points out that it was Commodus’ father who said it. The real power of the line is the fact that Maximus was able to beat Commodus in mind games before beating him in a fight.

13 “He Enters Rome Like A Conquering Hero. But What Has He Conquered?”

Gracchus (Derek Jacobi)

Gladiator‘s Commodus, much like in real life, suffered from megalomania and sought to label himself as the savior of Rome. Commodus simply wants the glory without the effort and arrives home like he is a conquering hero, leading to this astute appraisal of Rome’s new ruler from Derek Jacobi’s Gracchus. Such an arrogant display from someone the audience already has seen as weak and cruel makes it all the more satisfying to see Maximus bring about Commodus’ much-deserved downfall.

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Commodus and Maximus make for an excellent villain and hero lineup simply because of how they mirror each other in many ways. Commodus sought his father’s affection only for it to be given to Maximus. He then turned to the people of Rome for acceptance, which he found, only for Maxmius to reemerge and steal that from him as well.

12 “The Beating Heart Of Rome Is Not The Marble Of The Senate, It’s The Sand Of The Colosseum. He’ll Bring Them Death — And They Will Love Him For It.”

Gracchus (Derek Jacobi)

The Colosseum is the real house of power in Rome, a gathering place for the mob to celebrate bloodshed. Gracchus and the senate know it, and so does Commodus. With one thing on his mind, Commodus wanted nothing more than to promote his own image. The gift of games meant the blood of Rome kept flowing to its heart, a machine built on death rather than justice. The glory of Rome isn’t quite glorious at all, but grotesque and corrupt.

For all of Commodus’ many faults, the fact that he knew how to win over the public shows how cunning he is as a ruler. It is another line that shows how Gladiator astutely mirrored modern politics within the movie’s setting of Ancient Rome. It is common practice for politicians to win over the favor of the people with small yet flashy offerings that work to distract them from all the things they are being deprived of.

11 “Commodus. Your Faults As A Son Are My Failure As A Father.”

Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris)

Marcus Aurelius knew the glory Rome was capable of achieving was only possible through Maximus, which is why he confessed this line to Commodus. Commodus is foolish and naive, more likely to contribute to Rome’s corruption than free the people from it. Aurelius can only utter this line to his son as he breaks the news of who will take his place. He tries to take some of the blame for how Commodus turned out, and if that is true, he was the maker of his own death, as this final rejection is what causes Commodus to kill his father.

While it is hard to say Commodus is sympathetic in any way, this line should not be overlooked in painting him as a more tragic character than he is given credit for. The movie doesn’t spend too much time exploring what Commodus’ upbringing was, but there is a sense that, had he had a father who loved him and respected him in the way Aurelius respects Maximus, he would have turned out differently.

10 “Today I Saw A Slave Become More Powerful Than The Emperor Of Rome.”

Lucilla (Connie Neilsen)

When Lucilla is reintroduced to Maximus later in the movie, he takes her for an enemy the same as Commodus. In his eyes, she accepted her brother as the new ruler despite knowing that Commodus murdered their father as well as ordered the deaths of Maximus’ family. However, Lucilla lets him know that things are not as black and white as he assumes and that she is as eager to see Commodus overthrown.

Lucilla explains that she remains with Commodus out of fear and now fears the danger her son is in as the next in line for the throne. However, with Maximus’ return, she sees hope that Commodus can be defeated and that there is someone who will stand up against him.

This is a key line in the movie as Maximus is resigned to his fate as a gladiator, at best hoping that he might get a chance to kill Commodus. However, Lucilla is the one who convinces him that he still has power and the way he won over the crowd, saving his own life in the process, is proof.

9 “I Think You’ve Been Afraid All Your Life.”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

Despite having the upper hand, Commodus’ cowardice and naive mindset end up getting him killed. Maximus can see right through him, which angers Commodus and strikes a jealous chord within him as Marcus Aurelius saw Maximus as the son he never had. Once again, it is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance that deserves a lot of praise here for being willing to show the character as a frightening, pathetic man who cannot hide his insecurities.

When challenging Maximus to a fight at the climax of the movie, Commodus attempts to show that he is not afraid of facing him. However, Maximus astutely sums up Commodus and the fact that fear has controlled his life. It is a perfect description of the character and it’s this fear that drives his actions throughout the movie. He is afraid of being rejected, afraid of appearing weak, and afraid of death. Ironically, it is his fear in the end that drives him to his own demise.

8 “We Mortals Are But Shadows And Dust. Shadows And Dust, Maximus.”

Proximo (Oliver Reed)

Actor Oliver Reed sadly passed away in the middle of filming Gladiator, yet his performance as Proximo is one of the highlights of the movie. Proximo was a former gladiator himself who won his freedom and owns the other fighters now. This dangerous path has given him a unique outlook on life as he sees death as an inevitable thing that should be accepted at any moment. When Maximus wants to fight to preserve Marcus Aurelius’s dream of a new Rome, Proximo insists none of that matters as, just like Aurelius, they will die and be forgotten.

It is another profound line that speaks to the themes of the impact one person can have. Being surrounded by death his whole life, Proximo sees life and humanity in general as a fleeting thing. This makes it all the more impactful when he begins to see that Maximus can actually make a difference. Proximo repeats this line before his death, making it more impactful as he is resigned to the fact that he will not be remembered.

7 “Whatever Comes Out Of These Gates, We’ve Got A Better Chance Of Survival If We Work Together.”

Maximus (Russell Crowe)

Maximus is arguably one of the most compelling figures to ever grace the silver screen, due in no small part to Russell Crowe’s inspired, award-winning performance and his interpretation of the character. His appeal was based on his competency in battle, his decisiveness, his courage, and his concern for his fellow fighting men. This scene encapsulates all these qualities and provides another instance for audiences to admire the Roman general.

Aside from informing the doomed gladiators of what could save them from death, his words ring true for all situations in which teamwork is necessary. It is a key moment for the character after he is brought back from the brink of death after losing his family. Instead of being resigned to death himself, he decides to take up his position as general once again and lead his new army to victory.

6 “I Will See You Again. But Not Yet. Not Yet.”

Juba (Djimon Hounsou)

Amidst all the bloody violence and chaos of the movie, there is a touching friendship that develops between Maximus and his fellow gladiator, Juba. When Maximus talks about his family with his new friend, Juba assures him that he will see them again, but that he still has a life to live. It is a touching moment that brings some comfort to Maximus while also pushing him to continue on despite his pain.

At the end of Gladiator, Juba visits the Colosseum where Maximus died. Paying tribute, he takes a moment to say goodbye to his friend and promises to see him again. But with a smile, he adds “But not yet.” It offers a bittersweet ending for the movie, with Juba showing that he misses his friend but is also going to continue to live on and enjoy the freedom Maximus helped to give him.

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