Quotes

Dialogue

Iolaus: [narrating] You think you know the truth about him? You know nothing. His father was Zeus. The Zeus. King of the gods. His mother, Alcmene, a mortal woman. Together, they had a boy. Half human, half god. But Zeus' queen, Hera, saw this bastard child as an insult, a living reminder of her husband's infidelity. Alcmene named the boy Hercules, which means glory of Hera, but this failed to appease the goddess. She wanted him dead. Luckily, he took after his father. Once he reached manhood, the gods commanded him to perform Twelve Labors, twelve dangerous missions. If he completed them all and survived, Hera agreed to finally let him live in peace. He fought the Lernean Hydra! He battled the Erymanthean Boar! [Hercules strikes the Erymanthean Boar face-down] But his greatest Labor was the Nemean Lion. This was no ordinary beast. It had a hide so tough, no weapon could penetrate it. But even this monster was no match for the son of Zeus... Gryza: What a load of crap! Iolaus: Every wo

Dialogue

Autolycus: Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen... Atalanta: That was fun. Autolycus: ...eighteen, nineteen, twenty. 20 pirates at two gold pieces a head, minus the headless ones. Let's see. Hercules: Not a bad night. Iolaus: You see how the pirates ran? My story softened their resolve! Autolycus: Their resolve must be broken, Iolaus. When you speak the legend of Hercules, make it bigger, scarier! The more they believe Hercules is truly the son of Zeus, the less like they are to fight. Amphiaraus: [stokes the fire] Aye. Hercules: Amphiarus. Amphiaraus: Hmm? Hercules: Care to join us here on Earth? Amphiaraus: A lion and a crow in strange alliance, fighting across a sea of corpses.

Dialogue

Hercules: Whenever I'm here, I'm sure this is what Elysium must look like. Eurystheus: [chuckles] Well, men like us have the means to create our own paradise on Earth. [shows Hercules the peacocks] Look. Magnificent, aren't they? Well, do not keep us in suspense. Are we safe from the monster Hydra? Hercules: [opens a bag full of decapitated Hydra heads] The Hydra heads, Your Majesty. Eurystheus: [lifts the Hydra head open to show a human head] The masks of serpents. No wonder men thought they were monsters. You've done your sovereign a great service. Come. Let the people have their hero. [he and Hercules approach the balcony] Male Servant: All hail King Eurystheus, and the mighty protector of Athens, Hercules! [the crowd roars with cheers and chants] Eurystheus: A man faced with such adoration might be tempted to think himself a god. Hercules: I only want to be a husband and a father.

Dialogue

Cotys: Hercules, welcome. An honor to host such a legend. Hercules: Lord Cotys. Cotys: But in legend, you fight alone. Hercules: My reputation would not exist without my comrades. Autolycus of Sparta, Tydeus of Thebes, Atalanta of Scythia, Iolaus of Athens, and Amphiaraus of Argos. Cotys: Amphiaraus? The famed seer of Argos. It is said you have glimpsed your own death, so you fight each battle knowing that it is not yet your time to die. What else can you tell of the future? Amphiaraus: Only what the gods see fit to reveal. Cotys: A shame. It would have been a great gift to know the outcome of this war. Amphiaraus: The gods can be frustrating sometimes, Lord Cotys. Cotys: [chuckles and turns to Atalanta] With respect, I fear that the task ahead might not be suitable for a woman, even if she is an Amazon warrior. [Atalanta swiftly turns around and fires both arrows at once at the guards' helmets against a door] I stand corrected.

Dialogue

Cotys: Rhesus! Rhesus: You have come looking for a fight, and we are happy to oblige. [to Hercules] Hercules, the son of Zeus. Your legend ends here. Hercules: Look at me. Do I look afraid? Rhesus: It is over, Cotys. Mount Asticus on your front, the woods at your back, and my troops outman you three to one. Surrender now, and we shall consider being merciful. Sitacles: Men die who speak to my lord in such a manner. Rhesus: You've made your choice.

Dialogue

Hercules: I saw pity in your eyes for Rhesus. Why? Look at me. Cotys is responsible for this war, isn't he? You lie very well. Clearly, your father's daughter. Ergenia: I didn't do it for my father. I did it for my son. If I disobeyed Cotys or resisted in any way, Arius would be executed. I did what any mother would. I protected my child. My husband was king, and Cotys poisoned him to take his place. Rhesus fought back. Civil war broke out. Arius is the legitimate king. My father is old. He will not live forever, and once he is gone, my son will be a good king. And he will heal this land. Hercules: That's a dream. Ergenia: And you can help. Please, when you leave Thrace, take Arius with you. Please keep him safe. Hercules: Find another savior.

Dialogue

Eurystheus: Magnificent, aren't they? An extraordinary species, incredibly loyal, as long as they're fed. Remember them? Hercules: Eurystheus. Eurystheus: They remember you. Confused, Hercules? Cotys: Kingdoms are won with armies, but empires are made by alliances. King Eurystheus and I will now rule all of Greece. Hercules: Cerberus only exists in my mind. Eurystheus: Speak a little louder, Hercules. [slaps Hercules] I didn't quite catch that. Hercules: The wolves, they were there that night. The wolves were there. You drugged me. The wolves were there the night my family was murdered. Eurystheus: My men told me how your children screamed as my wolves gnawed on their bones. As their fangs despoiled your daughter's... pure flesh. When the people called out your name louder than mine, you see, when they saw you as a god, how long before they saw you as their king? Hercules: I WANTED NOTHING!! Eurystheus: PRECISELY! Your sin, Hercules, was that you had no ambition! I can deal with an amb

Dialogue

Amphiaraus: Who are you? Are you a murderer? Ergenia: Damn you! I curse you! Amphiaraus: Are you a mercenary who turns his back on the innocent? Ergenia: Stay away from my son! Amphiaraus: Are you only a legend, or are you the truth behind the legend? We believe in you! We have faith in you! Have faith in yourself! Remember the man that you are. Ergenia: Father, the gods will punish you! You cannot escape it! Amphiaraus: Remember the deeds you have performed, the Labors you have accomplished! Ergenia: No! NOO!! Atalanta: STOP IT! Iolaus: Leave her alone! Amphiaraus: Now tell me! Ergenia: PLEASE!!! Amphiaraus: [enunciating] Who... are... YOU?! Hercules: [building up superhuman strength] I... AM... HERCULLLLLEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! [the strength of the pull breaks the chains and Hercules leaps over and slams the chain-bound rocks on a Thracian executioner's head, killing him and making him drop the axe in front of Ergenia, who gasps in astonishment] Cotys: Unleash the wolves!

Dialogue

Hercules: Soldiers of Thrace! You followed me in battle, follow me now. Cotys: Don't be fools! Hercules is mortal, not a god! Anyone who sides with him will die! And I will show you. [turns to a soldier] Bring him! Ergenia: [sees a soldier bring forward Arius bound in rope] Arius! Arius: Mama! Ergenia: No! He's your grandson! Cotys: You failed to save your children, Hercules. But you may yet save him. Ergenia: Please, Father! No! Cotys: Admit defeat! Bow to me! You have until the count of three! One! Two! [Autolycus' knife suddenly impales the soldier's throat] Autolycus: Don't just stand there! Kill someone!