Ben-Hur (1959 film) Quotes

Ben-Hur (1959 film) is a television show that debuted in 1970 . Ben-Hur ended in 1970.

It features Sam Zimbalist as producer, Miklós Rózsa in charge of musical score, and Robert Surtees (cinematographer) as head of cinematography.

Ben-Hur (1959 film) is recorded in English and originally aired in United States. Each episode of Ben-Hur (1959 film) is 212 minutes long. Ben-Hur (1959 film) is distributed by Loews Cineplex Entertainment.

The cast includes: Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius, André Morell as Sextus, Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, Stephen Boyd as Messala, Haya Harareet as Esther, Hugh Griffith as Sheik Ilderim, Martha Scott as Miriam, Cathy O'Donnell as Tirzah, Finlay Currie as Balthasar, George Relph as Tiberius Caesar, Laurence Payne as Joseph, Terence Longdon as Drusus, Frank Thring as Pontius Pilate, and Sam Jaffe as Simonides.

Ben-Hur (1959 film) Quotes

Terence Longdon as Drusus

• (Unnamed) "Miriam, wife -- Tirzah, daughter."
• (Terence Longdon) "Yes, they're the ones. Are they alive?"
• (Unnamed) "East section -- lower level. Cell two. The jailer in that wing will know."
• (Terence Longdon) "How long since you've seen them?"
• (Unnamed) "Never; and I've been here three years. But they're alive, all right."
• (Unnamed) "The food disappears."

Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius

• (Jack Hawkins) "In his eagerness to save you, your God has also saved the Roman fleet."

• (Jack Hawkins) "Now listen to me, all of you. You are all condemned men. We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live."

• (Jack Hawkins) "Your eyes are full of hate, forty-one. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive. It gives him strength."

• (Jack Hawkins) "Battle speed --. Attack speed --. Ramming speed."

Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur

• (Charlton Heston) "If I cannot persuade them, that does not mean I will help you -- murder them. Besides, you must understand this, Messala. I believe in the past of my people, and in their future."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Future? You are a conquered people."
• (Charlton Heston) "You may conquer the land; you may slaughter the people. But that is not the end. We will rise again."

• (Rower No. 42) "Forty-one, why did he do that?"
• (Charlton Heston) "I don't know."
• (Charlton Heston) "Once before, a man helped me. I didn't know why then."

• (Charlton Heston) "Almost at the moment He died, I heard Him say, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.""
• (Haya Harareet) "Even then."
• (Charlton Heston) "Even then. And I felt His voice take the sword out of my hand."

• (Charlton Heston) "Simonides."

• (Charlton Heston) "If you were not a bride, I would kiss you goodbye."
• (Haya Harareet) "If I were not a bride, there would be no goodbyes to be said."

• (Charlton Heston) "Why are the streets deserted?"
• (Blind Man) "They have gone to the trial. Alms for the blind?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Trial? Whose trial?"
• (Blind Man) "The young rabbi from Nazareth. They are wanting his death."
• (Haya Harareet) "It cannot be true."
• (Blind Man) "Alms?"
• (Charlton Heston) "What has he done?"
• (Blind Man) "Nothing I know of. For the blind? For the blind? Help for the blind?"

• (Charlton Heston) "May God grant me vengeance. I will pray that you live until I return."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Return?"

• (Charlton Heston) "He gave me water, and the heart to live. What has he done to merit this?"
• (Finlay Currie) "He has taken the world of our sins onto Himself. To this end He said He was born, in that stable, where I first saw Him. For this cause, He came into the world."
• (Charlton Heston) "For this death?"
• (Finlay Currie) "For this beginning."

• (Charlton Heston) "Why did you tell me they were dead?"
• (Haya Harareet) "It was what they wanted. Judah, I must not betray this faith. Will you do this for them?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Not to see them?"
• (Haya Harareet) "They are coming -- Judah. Judah, love them in the way they most need to be loved: not to look at them. Judah, let it be as though you had never come here. Please, Judah."
• (Martha Scott) "Is Judah well? Is he happy?"
• (Haya Harareet) "Yes. He is well. Your mind can be at rest for him. He is well, Miriam."
• (Martha Scott) "God be with you."
• (Haya Harareet) "They are gone. We can go back."
• (Charlton Heston) "Go back -- to what?"
• (Haya Harareet) "Judah, they have one blessing left: to think you remember them as they were. Live your own life. Forget what is here."
• (Charlton Heston) "Forget? It's as if they were alive in a grave."
• (Haya Harareet) "But what can you do?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Undo what you've done. How could you have suffered them to come here? I must see them."
• (Haya Harareet) "No Judah, please. Judah."
• (Haya Harareet) "Oh, think, Judah, think. It will tear them apart if they see you."

• (Charlton Heston) "Where are my mother and sister? Where are they?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "Here, within these walls. The governor is recovering. They won't die. Of course, they will be sentenced."
• (Charlton Heston) "Is it possible- Messala, is it possible you could do this to us? To people you've known? A family you've loved? You'll let them go. You must. You will gladly let them go. MESSALA."
• (Charlton Heston) "I didn't try to kill the governor. You know that. I'm not mad. I'm not a murderer."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I know you're not."
• (Charlton Heston) "You know?"
• (Charlton Heston) "You are evil."
• (Stephen Boyd) "No, Judah, I am not evil. I wanted your help, now you've given it to me. By making this example of you, I discourage treason. By condemning, without hesitation, an old friend, I shall be feared."
• (Charlton Heston) "But not my family. Let them go. Please. Messala, I beg you."
• (Stephen Boyd) "BEG? Didn't I beg you?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "You chose this for yourself. There's nothing more to be said."
• (Charlton Heston) "You."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Kill me and your mother and sister will die today. Nailed to crosses in front of you."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Go on, Judah. Kill me."

• (Charlton Heston) "I must deal with Messala in my own way."
• (Finlay Currie) "And your way is to kill him."
• (Finlay Currie) "I see this terrible thing in your eyes, Judah Ben-Hur, but no matter what this man has done to you, you have no right to take his life. He will be punished inevitably."
• (Charlton Heston) "I don't believe in miracles."
• (Finlay Currie) "But all life is a miracle. Why will you not accept God's judgement?"

• (Charlton Heston) "What has become of my mother and my sister?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "It is not my duty to keep track of prisoners."
• (Charlton Heston) "Find them, Messala. Restore them to me and I will forget what I vowed with every stroke of that oar you chained me to."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I am not the governor of Judea. I can do nothing without Gratus' approval."
• (Charlton Heston) "Then get it. I will come back tomorrow. Don't disappoint me, Messala."
• (Stephen Boyd) "What became of them?"
• (Terence Longdon) "It's been almost five years. Do you suppose they're still alive?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "Go to the citadel, Drusus. Find out."
• (Terence Longdon) "And if they're dead?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "They're dead."

Stephen Boyd as Messala

• (Stephen Boyd) "By what magic do you bear the name of a Consul of Rome?"
• (Charlton Heston) "You were the magician, Messala. When my ship was sunk, I saved the Consul's life."

• (Stephen Boyd) "Sextus, you ask how to fight an idea. Well I'll tell you how -- with another idea."

• (Stephen Boyd) "Look to the West, Judah. Don't be a fool, look to Rome."
• (Charlton Heston) "I would rather be a fool than a traitor -- or a killer."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I am a soldier."
• (Charlton Heston) "Yes. Who kills. For Rome. Rome is evil."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I warn you --"
• (Charlton Heston) "No. I warn you. Rome is an affront to God. Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth. But not forever. I tell you the day Rome falls there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before."

• (Stephen Boyd) "Just as I remember it. The courtyard where we used to play at changing the guard; the roof where we used to throw pebbles at the people in the street and then hide."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Ah, we were rascals, weren't we?"
• (Martha Scott) "No, you were good boys. I would have that time again."

• (Stephen Boyd) "Judah, tell me, did you-did you think about what I said yesterday?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Yes. I talked to a number of people already. Spoken against violence, against incidents. Most of the men I talked to agree with me."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Most? Not all?"
• (Charlton Heston) "No, not all."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Who does not agree?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Well, the resentful, the impatient."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Who are they?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "Yes Judah. Who are they?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Would I retain your friendship if I became an informer?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "To tell me the names of criminals is hardly informing."
• (Charlton Heston) "They're not criminals, Messala. They're patriots."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Patriots. PATRIOTS."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Judah. Judah, let me explain something to you. Something you may not know. The emperor is watching us. At this moment, he watches the east. This is my great opportunity, Judah, and yours too. If I can bring order into Judea, I can have any post I want. And you'll rise with me, I promise. And do you know where it can end? Rome. Yes, perhaps at the side of Caesar himself. I mean it, I mean it. It can happen and this is the moment, Judah. I swear this is the time. The emperor is watching us, judging us. All I need do is serve him. And all you need do is help me serve him."
• (Charlton Heston) "You speak as if he were God."
• (Stephen Boyd) "He is God. The only god. He has power, real power on Earth. Not-"
• (Stephen Boyd) "Not that. Help me, Judah."
• (Charlton Heston) "I would do anything for you, Messala, except betray my own people."
• (Stephen Boyd) "In the name of all the gods, Judah, what do the lives of a few Jews mean to you?"
• (Charlton Heston) "If I cannot persuade them, that does not mean I would help you murder them. Besides, you must understand this, Messala. I believe in the past of my people and in their future."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Future? You are a conquered people."
• (Charlton Heston) "You may conquer the land. You may slaughter the people. But that is not the end. We will rise again."
• (Stephen Boyd) "You live on dead dreams. You live on the myths of the past. The glory of Solomon is gone. Do you think it will return? Joshua will not rise again to save you nor David. There is only one reality in the world today. Look to the west, Judah. Don't be a fool, look to Rome."
• (Charlton Heston) "I would rather be a fool than a traitor or a killer."
• (Charlton Heston) "I am a soldier."
• (Charlton Heston) "Yes. Who kills for Rome and Rome is evil."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I warn you --."
• (Charlton Heston) "NO. I warn YOU. Rome is an affront to God. Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth. But not forever. And I tell you, the day Rome falls, there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before."

• (Stephen Boyd) "Drusus, as a boy I dreamed of commanding this garrison. And now the wheel has turned. Now, I am in command."

• (Unnamed) "We cannot wait, Tribune."
• (Stephen Boyd) "He will come."
• (Unnamed) "We cannot wait any longer, Tribune."
• (Stephen Boyd) "He will come. He will come. I have sent for him, and he will come."
• (Unnamed) "If you wish us to keep you alive, we have to go to work now, Tribune. Do you understand?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "Cut the legs off me -- Not yet. Not till I've seen him. I can't receive him with half a body."
• (Stephen Boyd) "NO."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I told you, Drusus; I told you. There he is."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Triumph c -- triumph complete, Judah. The race won, the enemy destroyed."
• (Charlton Heston) "I see no enemy."
• (Stephen Boyd) "What do you think you see? The smashed body of a wretched animal? There's enough of a man still left here for you to hate. Let me help you."
• (Stephen Boyd) "You think they're dead, your mother and sister? Dead, and the race over? It isn't over, Judah. They're not dead."
• (Charlton Heston) "Where are they?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Where are they? WHERE ARE THEY?"
• (Stephen Boyd) "Look -- look for them -- in the Valley -- of the Lepers. If you can recognize them."
• (Stephen Boyd) "It goes on. It goes on, Judah. The race -- the race -- is not -- over."

• (Stephen Boyd) "By condemning without hesitation an old friend, I shall be feared."

• (Unnamed) "For the Tribune. With the compliments of Quintus Arrius. He awaits your pleasure."
• (Stephen Boyd) "The consul here?"
• (Unnamed) "It is Quintus Arrius the Younger, tribune."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Thank him. Bring him to me."
• (Terence Longdon) "I didn't know the consul had a son."
• (Stephen Boyd) "I've heard of the young Arrius. He's a champion of the great circus. Why is he here presenting me with gifts?"
• (Terence Longdon) "Perhaps he will race against you in the games."
• (Stephen Boyd) "Look."
• (Terence Longdon) "It's magnificent."
• (Stephen Boyd) "And from a man I've never met."
• (Charlton Heston) "You're wrong, Messala."

• (Stephen Boyd) "Judah, either you help me or you oppose me, you have no other choice. You're either for me or against me."
• (Charlton Heston) "If that is the choice, then I am against you."

Finlay Currie as Balthasar

• (Finlay Currie) "In the Year of our Lord, Judea; for nearly a century; had lain under the mastery of Rome. In the seventh year of the reign of Augustus Caesar, an imperial decree ordered every Judean each to return to his place of birth to be counted and taxed. The converging ways of many of them led to the gates of their capital city, Jerusalem, the troubled heart of their land. The old city was dominated by the fortress of Antonia, the seat of Roman power, and by the great golden temple, the outward sign of an inward and imperishable faith. Even while they obeyed the will of Caesar, the people clung proudly to their ancient heritage, always remembering the promise of their prophets that one day there would be born among them a redeemer to bring them salvation and perfect freedom."

• (Finlay Currie) "I have lived too long."

• (Finlay Currie) "Pardon me; you are a stranger here. Would you be from Nazareth?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Why do you ask?"
• (Finlay Currie) "I thought -- you might be the one -- the one I have come back from my country to find. He would be about your age."
• (Charlton Heston) "Who?"
• (Finlay Currie) "When I find him, I shall know him."

Martha Scott as Miriam

• (Martha Scott) "I'm afraid."
• (Haya Harareet) "No cause. The world is more than we know."

• (Martha Scott) "As though he were carrying that cross the pain of the world."
• (Martha Scott) "So fearful."
• (Cathy O'Donnell) "And yet why is it -- I'm not afraid anymore?"
• (Haya Harareet) "The shadow of a storm."
• (Haya Harareet) "A strange darkness, but still day."
• (Martha Scott) "His life is over."
• (Cathy O'Donnell) "He's here. It's tearing -- I feel the pain."
• (Martha Scott) "I feel it too."
• (Haya Harareet) "Miriam?"
• (Haya Harareet) "I thought that -- Miriam. Do you see your hand?"
• (Haya Harareet) "Tirzah. Miriam."

Frank Thring as Pontius Pilate

• (Frank Thring) "A grown man knows the world he lives in. For the moment, that world is Rome."

Hugh Griffith as Sheik Ilderim

• (Hugh Griffith) "One God, that I can understand; but one wife? That is not civilized."
• (Hugh Griffith) "It is not generous."

• (Hugh Griffith) "Was the food not to your liking?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Oh, indeed."

• (Hugh Griffith) "Balthasar is a good man. But until all men are like him, we must keep our swords bright."
• (Charlton Heston) "And our intentions true. So I must leave you."
• (Hugh Griffith) "One last thought: There is no law in the arena; many are killed -- I hope to see you again, Judah Ben-Hur."

• (Hugh Griffith) "I've got six -- no, seven."
• (Finlay Currie) "I have counted eight, and that is because he is traveling. At home, he has more."

Laurence Payne as Joseph

• (Unnamed) "You're not watching the soldiers, Joseph?"
• (Laurence Payne) "We've seen Romans before."
• (Unnamed) "Yes. And we will see them again."
• (Unnamed) "My table is not finished. Where is your son?"
• (Laurence Payne) "He's walking in the hills."
• (Unnamed) "Mm-hm. He neglects his work, Joseph."
• (Laurence Payne) "No. Once I reproached him with forgetting his work. He said to me, "I must be about my Father's business.""
• (Unnamed) "Then why isn't he here, working?"
• (Laurence Payne) "He's working."

André Morell as Sextus

• (André Morell) "There's this wild man in the desert named John who drowns people in water."

• (André Morell) "You can break a man's skull, you can arrest him, you can throw him into a dungeon. But how do you control what's up here?"
• (André Morell) "How do you fight an idea?"

Haya Harareet as Esther

• (Haya Harareet) "It was Judah Ben-Hur I loved. What has become of him? You seem to be now the very thing you set out to destroy. Giving evil for evil. Hatred is turning you to stone. It's as though you had become Messala."

• (Haya Harareet) "Oh, Judah, rest. Sleep. For a few hours of the night, let your mind be at peace."
• (Charlton Heston) "Peace. Love and peace. Do you think I don't long for them as you do? Where do you see them?"
• (Haya Harareet) "If you had heard this man from Nazareth --"
• (Charlton Heston) "Balthasar's word."
• (Haya Harareet) "He is more than Balthasar's word. His voice traveled with such a still purpose -- It was more than a voice -- a man more than a man. He said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.""
• (Charlton Heston) "Children of God? In that dead valley where we left them? I tell you every man in Judea is unclean, and will stay unclean, until we've scoured off our bodies the crust and filth of being at the mercy of tyranny. No other life is possible except to wash this land clean."
• (Haya Harareet) "In blood?"
• (Charlton Heston) "Yes, in blood."
• (Haya Harareet) "I know there is a law in life, that blood gets more blood as dog begets dog. Death generates death, as the vulture breeds the vulture. But the voice I heard today on the hill said, "Love your enemy. Do good to those who despitefully use you.""
• (Charlton Heston) "So all who are born in this land hereafter can suffer as we have done."
• (Haya Harareet) "As you make us do now. Are we to bear nothing together? Even love?"
• (Charlton Heston) "I can hardly draw breath without feeling you in my heart. Yet I know that everything I do from this moment will be as great a pain to you as you have ever suffered. It is better not to love me."
• (Haya Harareet) "It was Judah Ben-Hur I loved. What has become of him? You seem to be now the very thing you set out to destroy, giving evil for evil. Hatred is turning you to stone. It is as though you had become Messala."
• (Haya Harareet) "I've lost you, Judah."

• (Haya Harareet) "How can this be?"
• (Charlton Heston) "I know this man."
• (Martha Scott) "Won't someone help him?"
• (Cathy O'Donnell) "Pity on him."
• (Martha Scott) "In his pain -- there's a look of peace."
• (Charlton Heston) "Watch over them, Esther."
• (Martha Scott) "We must go back."
• (Haya Harareet) "I brought you here to this -- when I hoped --"
• (Martha Scott) "You haven't failed, Esther."

George Relph as Tiberius Caesar

(We don't have any quotes for this character)

Cathy O'Donnell as Tirzah

• (Cathy O'Donnell) "Thank You."
• (Cathy O'Donnell) "You can read her lips."

Sam Jaffe as Simonides

• (Sam Jaffe) "Judah-Ben Hur. You've come back to us like a returning faith. Oh Judah, I should like to laugh again. Let us laugh."
• (Charlton Heston) "We will laugh."
• (Sam Jaffe) "There will be joy again in this house. We will celebrate. Among the dust and cobwebs --"

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