Troy Quotes
An adaptation of Homer's great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.
Thetis: If you stay in Larissa, you will find peace. You will find a wonderful woman, and you will have sons and daughters, who will have children. And they'll all love you and remember your name. But when your children are dead, and their children after them, your name will be forgotten... If you go to Troy, glory will be yours. They will write stories about your victories in thousands of years! And the world will remember your name. But if you go to Troy, you will never come back... for your glory walks hand-in-hand with your doom. And I shall never see you again.
Hector: I've seen this moment in my dreams. I'll make a pact with you. With the gods as our witnesses, let us pledge that the winner will allow the loser all the proper funeral rituals.
Achilles: There are no pacts between lions and men.
[stabs spear into ground, and takes off helmet, throwing it to the side]
Achilles: Now you know who you're fighting.
Hector: [takes off helmet and throws it aside] I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday. And I wish it had been, 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.
Achilles: There are no pacts between lions and men.
[stabs spear into ground, and takes off helmet, throwing it to the side]
Achilles: Now you know who you're fighting.
Hector: [takes off helmet and throws it aside] I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday. And I wish it had been, 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.
[Priam kneels and kisses Achilles' hands]
Achilles: Who are you?
Priam: I have endured what no one on earth has endured before. I kissed the hands of the man who killed my son.
Achilles: [realizes, stands abrubtly] Priam? How did you get in here?
Priam: 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.
Priam: 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 a proper burial, you know that. Give him to me.
Achilles: He killed my cousin.
Achilles: He thought it was you. How many cousins have you killed? How many sons and fathers and brothers and husbands? How many, brave Achilles?
Achilles: Who are you?
Priam: I have endured what no one on earth has endured before. I kissed the hands of the man who killed my son.
Achilles: [realizes, stands abrubtly] Priam? How did you get in here?
Priam: 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.
Priam: 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 a proper burial, you know that. Give him to me.
Achilles: He killed my cousin.
Achilles: He thought it was you. How many cousins have you killed? How many sons and fathers and brothers and husbands? How many, brave Achilles?
Messenger Boy: Are the stories true? They say your mother was an immortal godess. 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: 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.
[Eyes closed, Briseis has blade against his throat]
Achilles: Do it.
[Briseis doesn't do anything, but only stares at him. Achilles opens his eyes]
Achilles: Do it. Nothing is easier.
Briseis: Aren't you afraid?
Achilles: Everyone dies, whether today or fifty years from now.
Briseis: If I don't, you'll kill more men.
Achilles: Many.
Achilles: Do it.
[Briseis doesn't do anything, but only stares at him. Achilles opens his eyes]
Achilles: Do it. Nothing is easier.
Briseis: Aren't you afraid?
Achilles: Everyone dies, whether today or fifty years from now.
Briseis: If I don't, you'll kill more men.
Achilles: Many.
Achilles: Go home, prince. Drink some wine, make love to your wife. Tomorrow, we'll have our war.
Hector: 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.
Hector: 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.
Achilles: What's your name?
[no reply]
Achilles: Did you not hear me?
Briseis: You killed Apollo's priests!
Achilles: I've killed men in five countries, never a priest.
Briseis: Well, then your men did. The sun god will have his vengeance.
Achilles: What's he waiting for?
Briseis: The right time to strike.
Achilles: His priests are dead, and his acolyte's a captive. i think your god is afraid of me.
Briseis: Afraid? Apollo is master of the sun, he fears nothing.
Achilles: Where is he?
Briseis: You're nothing but a killer! You wouldn't know anything about the gods!
Achilles: I know more about the gods than your priests. I've seen them. You're royalty, aren't you? Spent years talking down to men.
[sniffs her hair]
Achilles: You must be royalty. What's your name? Even the servants of Apollo have names.
Briseis: Briseis.
Achilles: Are you afraid, Briseis?
Briseis: Should I be?
Eudorus: [poking head through door flaps] My lord, Agamemnon requests your presence. The kings are gathering to celebrate the victory.
Achilles: You fought well today.
Eudorus: My lord.
Briseis: What do you want here in Troy? You didn't come for the Spartan queen.
Achilles: I want what all men want, I just want it more. You don't need to fear me, girl. You're the only Trojan who can say that.
[no reply]
Achilles: Did you not hear me?
Briseis: You killed Apollo's priests!
Achilles: I've killed men in five countries, never a priest.
Briseis: Well, then your men did. The sun god will have his vengeance.
Achilles: What's he waiting for?
Briseis: The right time to strike.
Achilles: His priests are dead, and his acolyte's a captive. i think your god is afraid of me.
Briseis: Afraid? Apollo is master of the sun, he fears nothing.
Achilles: Where is he?
Briseis: You're nothing but a killer! You wouldn't know anything about the gods!
Achilles: I know more about the gods than your priests. I've seen them. You're royalty, aren't you? Spent years talking down to men.
[sniffs her hair]
Achilles: You must be royalty. What's your name? Even the servants of Apollo have names.
Briseis: Briseis.
Achilles: Are you afraid, Briseis?
Briseis: Should I be?
Eudorus: [poking head through door flaps] My lord, Agamemnon requests your presence. The kings are gathering to celebrate the victory.
Achilles: You fought well today.
Eudorus: My lord.
Briseis: What do you want here in Troy? You didn't come for the Spartan queen.
Achilles: I want what all men want, I just want it more. You don't need to fear me, girl. You're the only Trojan who can say that.
Achilles: Apparently you won some great victory.
Agamemnon: Ah, Perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan beach belonged to Priam in the morning. It belongs to Agamemnon in the afternoon.
Achilles: You can have the beach. I didn't come here for sand.
Agamemnon: No. You came here because you want your name to last through the ages. A great victory was won today, but that victory is 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.
Agamemnon: History remembers kings! Not soldiers! Tomorrow we'll batter down the gates of Troy! I'll build monuments to victory on every island of Greece. I'll carve "Agamemnon" in the stone.
Achilles: Be careful, king of kings. First you need the victory.
Agamemnon: Your men sacked the temple of Apollo, yes?
Achilles: You want gold? Take it. It's my gift to honour your courage. Take what you wish.
Agamemnon: I already have. Aphareus! Haemon!
[Aphareus and Haemon appear dragging Briseis]
Agamemnon: The spoils of war.
Achilles: No argument with you, brothers. But if you don't release her, you'll never see home again. Decide!
Agamemnon: Guards!
[Achilles draws his sword]
Briseis: [breaking free from guards] Stop! Too many men have died today. If killing is your only talent, that's your curse. I don't want anyone dying for me.
[Achilles groans, then sheathes his sword]
Agamemnon: Mighty Achilles, silenced by a slave girl. Tonight I'll have her give me a bath, and then, who knows?
Achilles: You sack of wine! Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile.
Agamemnon: Ah, Perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan beach belonged to Priam in the morning. It belongs to Agamemnon in the afternoon.
Achilles: You can have the beach. I didn't come here for sand.
Agamemnon: No. You came here because you want your name to last through the ages. A great victory was won today, but that victory is 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.
Agamemnon: History remembers kings! Not soldiers! Tomorrow we'll batter down the gates of Troy! I'll build monuments to victory on every island of Greece. I'll carve "Agamemnon" in the stone.
Achilles: Be careful, king of kings. First you need the victory.
Agamemnon: Your men sacked the temple of Apollo, yes?
Achilles: You want gold? Take it. It's my gift to honour your courage. Take what you wish.
Agamemnon: I already have. Aphareus! Haemon!
[Aphareus and Haemon appear dragging Briseis]
Agamemnon: The spoils of war.
Achilles: No argument with you, brothers. But if you don't release her, you'll never see home again. Decide!
Agamemnon: Guards!
[Achilles draws his sword]
Briseis: [breaking free from guards] Stop! Too many men have died today. If killing is your only talent, that's your curse. I don't want anyone dying for me.
[Achilles groans, then sheathes his sword]
Agamemnon: Mighty Achilles, silenced by a slave girl. Tonight I'll have her give me a bath, and then, who knows?
Achilles: You sack of wine! Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile.
Patroclus: Prince Hector, is he as good a warrior as they say?
Odysseus: The best of all the Trojans. Some would say...
[sidelong glance at Achilles]
Odysseus: ...he's better than all the Greeks.
[Achilles snorts]
Odysseus: 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.
Odysseus: The best of all the Trojans. Some would say...
[sidelong glance at Achilles]
Odysseus: ...he's better than all the Greeks.
[Achilles snorts]
Odysseus: 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.
Achilles: Patroclus, put down your spear...
Patroclus: But I'm fighting the Trojans, cousin.
Achilles: Not today.
Patroclus: But I'm ready. You taught me how to fight.
Achilles: You're a good student, but you're not a Myrmidon yet. Look at these men, they are the fiercest soldiers in all of Greece, each of them has bled for me. You will guard the ship...
Patroclus: But this is a war!
Achilles: Cousin, I can't fight the Trojans if I'm concerned for you, guard the ship!
Patroclus: But I'm fighting the Trojans, cousin.
Achilles: Not today.
Patroclus: But I'm ready. You taught me how to fight.
Achilles: You're a good student, but you're not a Myrmidon yet. Look at these men, they are the fiercest soldiers in all of Greece, each of them has bled for me. You will guard the ship...
Patroclus: But this is a war!
Achilles: Cousin, I can't fight the Trojans if I'm concerned for you, guard the ship!
Achilles: Myrmidans! Brothers of the sword, I rather fight beside you than any army of thousands!
Myrmidans: Ahhooooo!
Achilles: Let no man forget how menacing we are! We are Lions!
Myrmidans: Ahhhooooo!
Achilles: Do you know whats there, waiting beyond that beach? Immortality, take it, it's yours!
Myrmidans: Ahhhooo ahooooo ahooooo!
Myrmidans: Ahhooooo!
Achilles: Let no man forget how menacing we are! We are Lions!
Myrmidans: Ahhhooooo!
Achilles: Do you know whats there, waiting beyond that beach? Immortality, take it, it's yours!
Myrmidans: Ahhhooo ahooooo ahooooo!
[first lines]
Title Card: 3200 years ago. After decades of warfare Agamemnon, King of Mycanae, has forced the kingdoms of Greece into a loose alliance. Only Thessaly remains unconquered. Agamemnon's brother Menelaus, King of Sparta, is weary of battle. He seeks to make peace with Troy, the most powerful rival to the emerging Greek nation. Achilles, considered the greatest warrior ever born, fights for the Greek army. But his disdain for Agamemnon's rule threatens to break the fragile alliance apart.
Priam: Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves, will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we're gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?
Title Card: 3200 years ago. After decades of warfare Agamemnon, King of Mycanae, has forced the kingdoms of Greece into a loose alliance. Only Thessaly remains unconquered. Agamemnon's brother Menelaus, King of Sparta, is weary of battle. He seeks to make peace with Troy, the most powerful rival to the emerging Greek nation. Achilles, considered the greatest warrior ever born, fights for the Greek army. But his disdain for Agamemnon's rule threatens to break the fragile alliance apart.
Priam: Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves, will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we're gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?
[from director's cut]
Priam: When you were very young, you came down with scarlet fever. Your little hand was so hot. The healer said you would not last the night. I went down to Apollo's temple, and I prayed until the sun came up. That walk back to the palace was the longest of my life. When I went into your mother's room, and you were sleeping in her arms, your fever had broken. I promised that day to dedicate my life to the gods, I will not break my promise. For 30 years I have worked for peace, *thirty* years. Paris is a fool sometimes, I know that, but I will fight a thousand wars before letting him die.
Hector: Forgive me father, but you won't be the one fighting.
Priam: When you were very young, you came down with scarlet fever. Your little hand was so hot. The healer said you would not last the night. I went down to Apollo's temple, and I prayed until the sun came up. That walk back to the palace was the longest of my life. When I went into your mother's room, and you were sleeping in her arms, your fever had broken. I promised that day to dedicate my life to the gods, I will not break my promise. For 30 years I have worked for peace, *thirty* years. Paris is a fool sometimes, I know that, but I will fight a thousand wars before letting him die.
Hector: Forgive me father, but you won't be the one fighting.
Achilles: I told you how to fight but I never told you why to fight.
Patroclus: I fight for you.
Achilles: Yes, but who will you fight for when I'm gone? Soldiers fight for kings they've never even met. They fight when they're told to fight, they die when they're told to die.
Patroclus: Soldiers obey.
Patroclus: I fight for you.
Achilles: Yes, but who will you fight for when I'm gone? Soldiers fight for kings they've never even met. They fight when they're told to fight, they die when they're told to die.
Patroclus: Soldiers obey.
Paris: Pearls from the sea of Propontus.
Helen: They're beautiful, but I could never wear them, Menelaus would kill us both.
Paris: Don't be afraid of him.
Helen: I'm not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of tomorrow. I'm afraid of watching you sail away and knowing you'll never come back. Before you came to Sparta, I was a ghost. I walked and I ate and I swam in the sea... I was just a ghost.
Paris: You don't have to fear tomorrow... come with me!
Helen: Don't play with me, don't play.
Paris: If you come, we'll never be safe. Men will hunt us, the gods will curse us, but I'll love you. Until the day they burn my body, I'll love you.
Helen: They're beautiful, but I could never wear them, Menelaus would kill us both.
Paris: Don't be afraid of him.
Helen: I'm not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of tomorrow. I'm afraid of watching you sail away and knowing you'll never come back. Before you came to Sparta, I was a ghost. I walked and I ate and I swam in the sea... I was just a ghost.
Paris: You don't have to fear tomorrow... come with me!
Helen: Don't play with me, don't play.
Paris: If you come, we'll never be safe. Men will hunt us, the gods will curse us, but I'll love you. Until the day they burn my body, I'll love you.
Agamemnon: I see you're not hiding behind your high walls. Valiant of you. Ill-advised, but valiant.
Hector: You come here uninvited. Go back to your ships and go home.
Agamemnon: We've come too far, Prince Hector.
Menelaus: Prince? What prince? What son of a king would accept a man's hospitality, eat his food, drink his wine, embrace him in friendship, and then steal his wife in the middle of the night?
Paris: The sun was shining when your wife left you.
Menelaus: She's up there, watching, isn't she? Good. I want her to watch you die.
Agamemnon: Not yet, brother. Look around you, Hector. I brought all the warriors of Greece to your shores.
Nestor: You can still save Troy, young prince.
Agamemnon: I have two wishes. If you grant them, no more of your people need die. First, you must give Helen back to my brother. Second, Troy must submit to my command, to fight for me whenever I call.
Hector: You want me to look upon your army and tremble? Well I see them. I see 50,000 men brought here to fight for one man's greed.
Agamemnon: Careful boy, my mercy has limits.
Hector: And I've seen the limits of your mercy and I tell you now, no son of Troy will ever submit to a foreign ruler.
Agamemnon: Then every son of Troy shall die.
Hector: You come here uninvited. Go back to your ships and go home.
Agamemnon: We've come too far, Prince Hector.
Menelaus: Prince? What prince? What son of a king would accept a man's hospitality, eat his food, drink his wine, embrace him in friendship, and then steal his wife in the middle of the night?
Paris: The sun was shining when your wife left you.
Menelaus: She's up there, watching, isn't she? Good. I want her to watch you die.
Agamemnon: Not yet, brother. Look around you, Hector. I brought all the warriors of Greece to your shores.
Nestor: You can still save Troy, young prince.
Agamemnon: I have two wishes. If you grant them, no more of your people need die. First, you must give Helen back to my brother. Second, Troy must submit to my command, to fight for me whenever I call.
Hector: You want me to look upon your army and tremble? Well I see them. I see 50,000 men brought here to fight for one man's greed.
Agamemnon: Careful boy, my mercy has limits.
Hector: And I've seen the limits of your mercy and I tell you now, no son of Troy will ever submit to a foreign ruler.
Agamemnon: Then every son of Troy shall die.
[first title cards]
Title card: 3200 years ago... After decades of warfare, Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, has forced the kingdoms of Greece into a loose alliance. Only Thessaly remains unconquered... Agamemnon's brother, Menelaus, King of Sparta, is weary of battle. He seeks to make peace with Troy, the most powerful rival to the emerging Greek nation... Achilles, considered the greatest warrior ever born, fights for the Greek army. But his disdain for Agamemnon's rule threatens to break the fragile alliance apart.
Title card: 3200 years ago... After decades of warfare, Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, has forced the kingdoms of Greece into a loose alliance. Only Thessaly remains unconquered... Agamemnon's brother, Menelaus, King of Sparta, is weary of battle. He seeks to make peace with Troy, the most powerful rival to the emerging Greek nation... Achilles, considered the greatest warrior ever born, fights for the Greek army. But his disdain for Agamemnon's rule threatens to break the fragile alliance apart.
Agamemnon: [approaches king] Good day for the crows.
Triopas: Remove your army from my land.
Agamemnon: Why, I like your land, I think we'll stay. I like your soldiers too.
Triopas: They won't fight for you.
Agamemnon: That's what the Messenians said, and the Acardians, and the Opeians, now they all fight for me.
Triopas: You can't have the whole world, Agamemnon. It's too big, even for you.
Agamemnon: I don't want to watch another massacre. Let's settle this war in the old manner. Your best fighter against my best.
Triopas: And if my man wins?
Agamemnon: We'll leave Thessaly for good.
Triopas: Boagrius!
[cheers from Thessalian army. Boagrius comes out from the centre of the army]
Agamemnon: Achilles!
[silence]
Triopas: Boagrius has this effect on many heroes.
Agamemnon: Be careful who you insult, old king.
Greek Soldier: My king, Achilles is not with the army.
Agamemnon: Where is he?
Greek Soldier: I sent a boy to look for him.
Triopas: Remove your army from my land.
Agamemnon: Why, I like your land, I think we'll stay. I like your soldiers too.
Triopas: They won't fight for you.
Agamemnon: That's what the Messenians said, and the Acardians, and the Opeians, now they all fight for me.
Triopas: You can't have the whole world, Agamemnon. It's too big, even for you.
Agamemnon: I don't want to watch another massacre. Let's settle this war in the old manner. Your best fighter against my best.
Triopas: And if my man wins?
Agamemnon: We'll leave Thessaly for good.
Triopas: Boagrius!
[cheers from Thessalian army. Boagrius comes out from the centre of the army]
Agamemnon: Achilles!
[silence]
Triopas: Boagrius has this effect on many heroes.
Agamemnon: Be careful who you insult, old king.
Greek Soldier: My king, Achilles is not with the army.
Agamemnon: Where is he?
Greek Soldier: I sent a boy to look for him.
Nestor: One more thing, we need Achilles and his Myrmidon.
Agamemnon: Achilles? He can't be controlled. He's as likely to fight us as the Trojans.
Nestor: We don't need to control him, we need to unleash him. That man was born to end lives.
Agamemnon: Yes, he's a gifted killer. But he threatens everything I've built. Before me, Greece was nothing. I brought all the Greek kingdoms together. I created a nation out of fire worshippers and snake eaters! I build the future Nestor, Me! achilles is the past. A man who fights for no flag. A man loyal to no country.
Nestor: How many battles have we won off the edge of his sword? This will be the greatest war the world has ever seen. We need the greatest warrior.
Agamemnon: There's only one man he'll listen to.
Agamemnon: Achilles? He can't be controlled. He's as likely to fight us as the Trojans.
Nestor: We don't need to control him, we need to unleash him. That man was born to end lives.
Agamemnon: Yes, he's a gifted killer. But he threatens everything I've built. Before me, Greece was nothing. I brought all the Greek kingdoms together. I created a nation out of fire worshippers and snake eaters! I build the future Nestor, Me! achilles is the past. A man who fights for no flag. A man loyal to no country.
Nestor: How many battles have we won off the edge of his sword? This will be the greatest war the world has ever seen. We need the greatest warrior.
Agamemnon: There's only one man he'll listen to.
Menelaus: I want her back.
Agamemnon: Well, of course you do, she's a beautiful woman.
Menelaus: I want her back so I can kill her with my own two hands, and I won't rest till I've burned Troy to the ground.
Agamemnon: I thought you wanted peace with Troy.
Menelaus: I should have listened to you.
Agamemnon: Peace is for the women, and the weak. Empires are forged by war.
Menelaus: All my life I've stood by your side, fought your enemies. You're the elder, you reap the glory. This is the war of the world. But have I ever complained, brother? Have I ever asked you for anything?
Agamemnon: Never. You're a man of honour.
Menelaus: Will you go to war with me, brother?
Agamemnon: Well, of course you do, she's a beautiful woman.
Menelaus: I want her back so I can kill her with my own two hands, and I won't rest till I've burned Troy to the ground.
Agamemnon: I thought you wanted peace with Troy.
Menelaus: I should have listened to you.
Agamemnon: Peace is for the women, and the weak. Empires are forged by war.
Menelaus: All my life I've stood by your side, fought your enemies. You're the elder, you reap the glory. This is the war of the world. But have I ever complained, brother? Have I ever asked you for anything?
Agamemnon: Never. You're a man of honour.
Menelaus: Will you go to war with me, brother?
