The Prince of Egypt Quotes
An Egyptian prince learns of his identity as a Hebrew and, later his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people.
Moses: Yes, Aaron, it's true. Pharaoh has the power. He can take away your food, your home, your freedom. He can take away your sons and daughters. With one word, Pharaoh can take away your very lives. But there is one thing he cannot take away from you: your faith. Believe, for we will see God's wonders.
Rameses: [singing] You who I called brother, how could you have come to hate me so? Is this what you wanted?
Chorus: [singing] I send the swarm, I send the hoard!
Rameses: [singing] Then let my heart be hardened, and never mind how high the cost may grow! This will still be so: I will never let your people go!
Chorus: [singing] I send the swarm, I send the hoard!
Rameses: [singing] Then let my heart be hardened, and never mind how high the cost may grow! This will still be so: I will never let your people go!
[Moses discovers the slaughter of the Hebrew babies]
Seti: The Hebrews grew too numerous. They might have risen against us.
Moses: Father, tell me you didn't do this.
Seti: Moses... sometimes, for the greater good, sacrifices must be made.
Moses: Sacrifices?
Seti: [hugging him] Oh, my son... they were only slaves.
Seti: The Hebrews grew too numerous. They might have risen against us.
Moses: Father, tell me you didn't do this.
Seti: Moses... sometimes, for the greater good, sacrifices must be made.
Moses: Sacrifices?
Seti: [hugging him] Oh, my son... they were only slaves.
On Screen Text: [first lines, the text that appears on screen] The motion picture you are about to see is an adaptation of the Exodus story.
On Screen Text: While artistic and historical license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide.
On Screen Text: The biblical story of Moses can be found in the book of Exodus.
On Screen Text: While artistic and historical license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide.
On Screen Text: The biblical story of Moses can be found in the book of Exodus.
God: [whispering] Moses...
Moses: Here I am.
God: Take the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.
Moses: Who are you?
God: I am that I am.
Moses: I don't understand.
God: I am the God of your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Miriam: [disembodied] You were born of my mother, Yocheved! You are our brother!
[Moses quickly removes his sandals and throws them behind him]
Moses: What do you want with me?
God: I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and have heard their cry.
[sound of screams and cracking whips]
God: So I shall stretch forth my hand, and lead them out of Egypt, into a good land. A land flowing with milk and honey. And so, unto Pharaoh, I shall send... you.
Moses: Me? W-who am I to lead these people? They won't follow me, they won't even listen!
God: I shall teach you what to say.
Moses: [disembodied] Let my people go!
Moses: But I was their enemy. I was the prince of Egypt, the son of the man who slaughtered... their *children*! You've chosen the wrong messenger! H-how can I even speak to these people?
God: WHO MADE MAN'S MOUTH? WHO MADE THE DEAF, THE MUTE, THE SEEING OR THE BLIND? DID NOT I? NOW GO!
[Moses falls to the ground, cowering]
God: [soothing, lifting Moses up] Oh, Moses, I shall be with you when you go to the king of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not listen. So I will stretch forth my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders! Take the staff in your hand, Moses. With it, *you* shall do *my* wonders.
[whispers]
God: I will be with you, Moses.
Moses: Here I am.
God: Take the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.
Moses: Who are you?
God: I am that I am.
Moses: I don't understand.
God: I am the God of your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Miriam: [disembodied] You were born of my mother, Yocheved! You are our brother!
[Moses quickly removes his sandals and throws them behind him]
Moses: What do you want with me?
God: I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and have heard their cry.
[sound of screams and cracking whips]
God: So I shall stretch forth my hand, and lead them out of Egypt, into a good land. A land flowing with milk and honey. And so, unto Pharaoh, I shall send... you.
Moses: Me? W-who am I to lead these people? They won't follow me, they won't even listen!
God: I shall teach you what to say.
Moses: [disembodied] Let my people go!
Moses: But I was their enemy. I was the prince of Egypt, the son of the man who slaughtered... their *children*! You've chosen the wrong messenger! H-how can I even speak to these people?
God: WHO MADE MAN'S MOUTH? WHO MADE THE DEAF, THE MUTE, THE SEEING OR THE BLIND? DID NOT I? NOW GO!
[Moses falls to the ground, cowering]
God: [soothing, lifting Moses up] Oh, Moses, I shall be with you when you go to the king of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not listen. So I will stretch forth my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders! Take the staff in your hand, Moses. With it, *you* shall do *my* wonders.
[whispers]
God: I will be with you, Moses.
Seti: Why do the gods torment me with such reckless, destructive, blasphemous sons?
Rameses: Father, hear what I say...
Seti: Be still! Pharaoh speaks. I seek to build an empire, and your only thought is to amuse yourselves by tearing it down! Have I taught you nothing?
Hotep: Don't be so hard on yourself, your highness. You're an excellent teacher.
Huy: It isn't your fault your sons learned nothing.
Hotep: Well, they learned blasphemy.
Huy: True.
Rameses: Father, hear what I say...
Seti: Be still! Pharaoh speaks. I seek to build an empire, and your only thought is to amuse yourselves by tearing it down! Have I taught you nothing?
Hotep: Don't be so hard on yourself, your highness. You're an excellent teacher.
Huy: It isn't your fault your sons learned nothing.
Hotep: Well, they learned blasphemy.
Huy: True.
Tzipporah: [Moses has fallen into Jethro's Well] What are you girls doing?
Sister: We're trying to get the funny man out of the well!
Tzipporah: Trying to get the funny man out of the well. Well, that's one I've never heard before.
[She looks down the well]
Tzipporah: Oh! Oh, my! Don't worry down there! We'll get you out! Hold on!
[She sees it is Moses]
Tzipporah: You!
[Tzipporah lets go of the rope, nods, and saunters away]
Sister: That's why Papa says she'll never get married.
Sister: We're trying to get the funny man out of the well!
Tzipporah: Trying to get the funny man out of the well. Well, that's one I've never heard before.
[She looks down the well]
Tzipporah: Oh! Oh, my! Don't worry down there! We'll get you out! Hold on!
[She sees it is Moses]
Tzipporah: You!
[Tzipporah lets go of the rope, nods, and saunters away]
Sister: That's why Papa says she'll never get married.
Rameses: Ok Moses, I know you. What's this really about?
Moses: [looks at the slaves building the empire] What do you see?
Rameses: A greater Egypt than that of my father.
Moses: That is not what I see.
Rameses: Moses, I cannot change what you see. I have to maintain the ancient traditions. I bear the weight of my father's crown.
Moses: Do you still not understand what Seti was?
Rameses: He was a great leader.
Moses: His hands bore the blood of thousands of children.
Rameses: [dismissively] Slaves.
Moses: My people. And I can no longer hide in the desert while they suffer! At your hands.
Rameses: [his face falls, disappointed] So, you have returned, only to free them.
[Moses gives Rameses the ring back]
Moses: I'm sorry.
Rameses: Yes, I had hoped, that...
[He closes his eyes for a moment and then opens them angrily]
Rameses: I do not know this God. Neither will I let your people go.
Moses: Rameses, please listen...
Rameses: I will not be the weak link!
Rameses: [walking away] Tell your people as of today, their workload has been doubled, thanks to your God. Or is it thanks to you?
[He coldly shuts the door]
Moses: [looks at the slaves building the empire] What do you see?
Rameses: A greater Egypt than that of my father.
Moses: That is not what I see.
Rameses: Moses, I cannot change what you see. I have to maintain the ancient traditions. I bear the weight of my father's crown.
Moses: Do you still not understand what Seti was?
Rameses: He was a great leader.
Moses: His hands bore the blood of thousands of children.
Rameses: [dismissively] Slaves.
Moses: My people. And I can no longer hide in the desert while they suffer! At your hands.
Rameses: [his face falls, disappointed] So, you have returned, only to free them.
[Moses gives Rameses the ring back]
Moses: I'm sorry.
Rameses: Yes, I had hoped, that...
[He closes his eyes for a moment and then opens them angrily]
Rameses: I do not know this God. Neither will I let your people go.
Moses: Rameses, please listen...
Rameses: I will not be the weak link!
Rameses: [walking away] Tell your people as of today, their workload has been doubled, thanks to your God. Or is it thanks to you?
[He coldly shuts the door]
Tzipporah: I won't be given to anyone, especially an arrogant, pampered, palace *brat*!
Rameses: [laughs, to Moses] Are you going to let her talk to you like that?
Moses: [Scoffs] You will show the proper respect for a prince of Egypt.
Tzipporah: But I *am* showing you all the respect you deserve: None!
[Pulls rope free]
Moses: [to approaching guards] No, wait!
[Dives and grabs rope]
Moses: Be still!
Tzipporah: [Starts pulling rope] Untie this rope! I demand you set me free!
Moses: Be still!
Tzipporah: Let go!
Moses: [Notices pond behind Tzipporah, smiles] As you wish.
[Abruptly lets go]
Rameses: [laughs, to Moses] Are you going to let her talk to you like that?
Moses: [Scoffs] You will show the proper respect for a prince of Egypt.
Tzipporah: But I *am* showing you all the respect you deserve: None!
[Pulls rope free]
Moses: [to approaching guards] No, wait!
[Dives and grabs rope]
Moses: Be still!
Tzipporah: [Starts pulling rope] Untie this rope! I demand you set me free!
Moses: Be still!
Tzipporah: Let go!
Moses: [Notices pond behind Tzipporah, smiles] As you wish.
[Abruptly lets go]
Yocheved: [singing, while wrapping a blanket around her baby and hiding it in her arms] Yal-di ha-tor veh he ha-rach...
[My good and tender son]
Yocheved: Al ti-ra, veh al tif-chad.
[Don't be frightened and don't be scared]
Yocheved: My son, I have nothing I can give, but this chance that you may live. I pray we'll meet again, if He will deliver us...
[Yocheved, Miriam and Aaron race to the river with the baby]
Chorus: Deliver us, hear our prayer, deliver us from despair, these years of slavery grow too cruel to stand! Deliver us, there's a land you promised us, deliver us out of bondage and deliver us to the promised land...
Yocheved: [placing the baby in the basket] Hush now, my baby. Be still, love, don't cry. Sleep as you're rocked by the stream. Sleep and remember my last lullaby, so I'll be with you when you dream. River, oh river, flow gently for me. Such precious cargo you bear. Do you know somewhere he can live free? River, deliver him there...
[My good and tender son]
Yocheved: Al ti-ra, veh al tif-chad.
[Don't be frightened and don't be scared]
Yocheved: My son, I have nothing I can give, but this chance that you may live. I pray we'll meet again, if He will deliver us...
[Yocheved, Miriam and Aaron race to the river with the baby]
Chorus: Deliver us, hear our prayer, deliver us from despair, these years of slavery grow too cruel to stand! Deliver us, there's a land you promised us, deliver us out of bondage and deliver us to the promised land...
Yocheved: [placing the baby in the basket] Hush now, my baby. Be still, love, don't cry. Sleep as you're rocked by the stream. Sleep and remember my last lullaby, so I'll be with you when you dream. River, oh river, flow gently for me. Such precious cargo you bear. Do you know somewhere he can live free? River, deliver him there...
Moses: Is this where you found me?
Queen: Moses, please try to understand.
Moses: So everything I thought, everything I am, is a lie.
Queen: No! You are our son and we love you.
Moses: Why did you choose me?
Queen: We didn't, Moses. The gods did.
[sings]
Queen: This is your home, my son. Here the river brought you, and it's here the river meant to be your home. Now you know the truth, love; now forget, and be content. When the gods send you a blessing, you don't ask why it was sent.
Queen: Moses, please try to understand.
Moses: So everything I thought, everything I am, is a lie.
Queen: No! You are our son and we love you.
Moses: Why did you choose me?
Queen: We didn't, Moses. The gods did.
[sings]
Queen: This is your home, my son. Here the river brought you, and it's here the river meant to be your home. Now you know the truth, love; now forget, and be content. When the gods send you a blessing, you don't ask why it was sent.
Moses: [Sarcastic] Well, that went well.
Rameses: Just go away.
Moses: It could have been worse!
Rameses: The "weak link in the chain." That's what he called me.
Moses: Well, you are rather pathetic.
Rameses: "Irresponsible... Ignorant of the traditions." He practically accused me of bringing down the dynasty!
Moses: Yeah, I can see it now. "There go the pyramids!"
[laughs]
Rameses: Just go away.
Moses: It could have been worse!
Rameses: The "weak link in the chain." That's what he called me.
Moses: Well, you are rather pathetic.
Rameses: "Irresponsible... Ignorant of the traditions." He practically accused me of bringing down the dynasty!
Moses: Yeah, I can see it now. "There go the pyramids!"
[laughs]
Aaron: So, Moses, how does it feel when *you* get struck to the ground?
Moses: I... didn't mean to cause you more pain. I'm just trying to do what God told me.
Aaron: God? When did God start caring about any of us?
[shouts]
Aaron: In fact, Moses, when did *you* start caring about slaves? Was it when you found out that you were one of us?
Tzipporah: Don't listen to him.
Moses: No, he's right. I did not see because I did not *wish* to see.
Aaron: Oh, you didn't see because you didn't...
[shouts]
Aaron: wish to see! Ah! Well that makes everything fine then, doesn't it?
Moses: I... didn't mean to cause you more pain. I'm just trying to do what God told me.
Aaron: God? When did God start caring about any of us?
[shouts]
Aaron: In fact, Moses, when did *you* start caring about slaves? Was it when you found out that you were one of us?
Tzipporah: Don't listen to him.
Moses: No, he's right. I did not see because I did not *wish* to see.
Aaron: Oh, you didn't see because you didn't...
[shouts]
Aaron: wish to see! Ah! Well that makes everything fine then, doesn't it?
Chorus: [singing] Thus saith the Lord: Since you refuse to free my people, all through the land of Egypt, I send a pestilence and plague into your house, into your bed, into your streams, into your streets, into your drink, into your bread! Upon your cattle, on your sheep, upon your oxen in your field! Into your dreams, into your sleep, until you break, until you yield! I send the swarm, I send the hoard! Thus saith the Lord!
[first lines]
Overseers: [chanting] Mud... Sand... Water... Straw. Faster! Mud... and lift... sand... and pull... water... and raise up! Straw... Faster!
Hebrews: [singing] With the sting of the whip on my shoulder, with the salt of my sweat on my brow... Elohim, God on high, can you hear your people cry? Help us now, this dark hour... Deliver us, hear our call, deliver us, Lord of all! Remember us, here in this burning sand! Deliver us, there's a land you promised us! Deliver us to the promised land!
Overseers: [chanting] Mud... Sand... Water... Straw. Faster! Mud... and lift... sand... and pull... water... and raise up! Straw... Faster!
Hebrews: [singing] With the sting of the whip on my shoulder, with the salt of my sweat on my brow... Elohim, God on high, can you hear your people cry? Help us now, this dark hour... Deliver us, hear our call, deliver us, Lord of all! Remember us, here in this burning sand! Deliver us, there's a land you promised us! Deliver us to the promised land!
Jethro: [singing] A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shine, can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design. And the stone that sits on the very top of the mountain's mighty face, does it think it's more important than the stones that form the base? So how can you see what your life is worth, or where your value lies? You can never see through the eyes of man... You must look at your life, look at your life through Heaven's eyes!
