Chiwetel Ejiofor Quotes

12 Years a Slave

A Fight for Freedom and Justice

Birch Well well well, my boy, how yah feel now?

Solomon Northup I am ]. I am ]; a resident of Saratoga, New York. The residence also of my wife and children who are equally free. I have You have no right whatsoever to detain me...

[[w:Solomon Northup|Solomon Northup; [w:Free Negro|a free man; https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/joseph-trammells-freedom-papers papers.]

Birch Yah not any...

Solomon Northup And I promise you - I promise - upon ] I will have satisfaction for this wrong.

[[w:Kidnapping_into_slavery_in_the_United_States#Prevention_and_rescue|my liberation]

Birch Resolve this. Produce your papers.

Birch Yah no free man. And yah ain't from Saratoga. Yah from Georgia. Yah ain't a free man. Yah nuthin but a Georgia ]. Yah a runaway nigger from Georgia.

[[w:Fugitive slaves in the United States|runaway]

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12 Years a Slave

Seeking Understanding Amidst Distrust

Solomon Northup We need a sympathetic ear. If we have an opportunity to explain our situation...

Clemens Who in your estimation is that sympathetic ear?

Solomon Northup The two men I journeyed with. I'm certain they're making inquires at this very moment.

Clemens I would be just as certain they are counting the money paid for delivering you to this place.

Solomon Northup They were not kidnappers. They were artists. Fellow performers.

Clemens You know that? You know for certain who they were?

Clemens How I reckon the situation: whatever past we had... well, that's done now. The reality to come is us being transported southward. New Orleans if I were to venture. After we arrive, we'll be put to market. Beyond that... Well, once in a slave state I suppose there's only one outcome.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Children of Men

The Beauty and Dignity of Life

Luke I was carrying the baby up the stairs. I started crying. I'd forgotten what they looked like. They're so beautiful. They're so tiny. Julian was wrong! She thought it could be peaceful! But how can it be peaceful when they try to take away your dignity?

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Backrooms

Understanding the Vastness Within

Clark Look, I know how this sounds but you gotta understand, it's massive in there.

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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Voicing Support Amidst Government Silence

Trywell Kamkwamba The government doesn't want us to make noise. The opposition people need our support.

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The Martian

Captain Blondebeard and International Waters

Vincent Kapoor How's he doing?

Mindy Park Uh... He asked us to call him Captain Blondebeard.

Vincent Kapoor Well technically Mars is international waters..

Mindy Park Yeah, I know. He explained it to us.

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Doctor Strange

Wi-Fi Password in Unconventional Context

Strange What is this? My mantra?

[After Mordo hands him a card that reads "Shamballa"]

Mordo It's the Wi-Fi password. We're not savages.

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12 Years a Slave

Perseverance in the Face of Adversity

Solomon Northup I will not fall into ]. I will keep myself hardy, till ] is opportune!

[[despair; [freedom]

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2012

Discussion on Communication and Priorities

Carl Anheuser She's a smart girl, she'll understand.

[about Laura Wilson]

Adrian Helmsley That thing in Paris, we're not involved in any of that, are we?

Anheuser We"? Who's "we", what are you talking about? What we need to do is focus on the timeline.

Helmsley So when do we let the country know?

Anheuser What?

Helmsley The people, sir. They need to know.

Anheuser Well, of course they do. Listen, your job is to figure out when this is all gonna fall apart, my mission is to figure out how to retain some semblance of government after it falls apart, and until then, we don't have time for anything except for doing those jobs, okay? Now, you call me the moment you get any news from Yellowstone.

Helmsley Yes, sir.

[turns to go]

Anheuser Cute girl, eh?

Helmsley Sir?

Anheuser The First Daughter. I saw you looking at her.

Helmsley I wasn't looking at her.

Anheuser Better move fast, kid. The end is near.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Backrooms

Discovery of a New Place

Clark I found something..

Mary What'd you find?

Clark I found a place...I found a place.

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The Martian

The Mystery of Project Elrond Explained

Annie Montrose What the hell is "Project Elrond?

Vincent Kapoor I had to make something up.

Annie Montrose But "Elrond?

Mitch Henderson Because it's a secret meeting.

Annie Montrose How do you know that; why does Elrond mean secret meeting?

Bruce Ng The Council of Elrond. It's the... it's... it's... from ]. It's the meeting where they decide to destroy the One Ring.

[[The Lord of the Rings]

Teddy Sanders If we are going to call something Project Elrond, I would like my code name to be Glorfindel.

Annie Montrose Okay, I hate every one of you.

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Doctor Strange

Consequences of Ignoring Forbidden Knowledge

Mordo STOP! Tampering with continuum probability is forbidden!

[Bursting in]

Strange I was just doing exactly what it said in the book!

Wong And what did the book say, about the dangers of performing that ritual?

Strange I don't know, I hadn't gotten to that part yet.

Mordo Temporal manipulations can create branches in time. Unstable dimensional openings! Spatial paradoxes, time loops! You want to get stuck experiencing the same moment over and over again forever, or never having existed at all?!

Strange They really should put the warnings before this stuff.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Backrooms

Determined to Return with Evidence

Clark Okay, I'm gonna come back here with proof.

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2012

Earthquake Updates from Multiple Experts

Scotty It's been upgraded to a 10.9 by the guys at Harvard.

Adrian Helmsley What does Caltech have to say?

Professor West The entire city of Pasadena was wiped out, just a few minutes ago. This is coming in live from Coachella Valley, near ]. That huge canyon, wasn't there this morning. And four hundred miles north, at ]. Same thing.

[turns on map; [w:Joshua Tree National Park|Joshua Tree; map then zooms to part of the San Andreas Fault; [w:Point Reyes|Point Reyes]

Helmsley The San Andreas Fault is shifting.

West Yes. And all sister faults in the Bay Area as well. The whole ] is destabilizing.

[[w:Pacific Plate|Pacific Plate]

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12 Years a Slave

Reflection on Years of Hardship

Solomon Northup I apologize for my appearance. But ] these past several years.

[Upon meeting his family again after 12 years; [w:Treatment of slaves in the United States#Living conditions|I have had a difficult time]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

2012

Urgent Request for Access Amid Crisis

Adrian Helmsley Mr. Curtis, this is Dr. Adrian Helmsley. We met at Yellowstone.

Jackson Curtis That's great! Open the goddamned door!

[in a slowly flooding chamber]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Backrooms

The Nature of the Space Explored

Clark All these rooms, this place builds them.

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Doctor Strange

The Complexity of Power and Consequences

Strange She's dead.

Mordo You were right. She wasn't who I thought she was.

Strange She was complicated.

Mordo Complicated. The Dark Dimension is volatile, dangerous. What if it overtook her? She taught us it was forbidden while she drew on its power to steal centuries of life.

Strange She did what she thought was right.

Mordo The bill comes due. Don't you see? Her transgressions led the Zealots to Dormammu. Kaecilius was her fault, and here we are in the consequence of her deception. A world on fire.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Backrooms

Embrace the journey for greater rewards.

Clark Keep up. It only gets better.

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Backrooms

The Freedom of Existential Detachment

Clark For starters, they can't feel anything. Can you imagine how good that must feel? I mean, there's no thoughts, no pain, no ego. No fear. They simply... exist. Like furniture.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Backrooms

Fear of Getting Lost

Clark Sometimes I'm scared I'll get lost.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Backrooms

Perception of Beauty in Unusual Places

Clark It's beautiful. Am I right?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

2012

The Challenge of Human Civilization

Adrian Helmsley Ladies and gentlemen, this is Dr. Adrian Helmsley, chief science adviser to the late President Wilson.

German Chancellor Could you please turn up the volume, Mr. Hoffmann?

Helmsley I know we've all been forced to make difficult decisions to save our human civilization, but to be human means to care for each other and civilization means to work together to create a better life. If that's true, then there's nothing human and nothing civilized about what we're doing here.

Carl Anheuser Dr. Helmsley's passion is admirable, but I will remind you that we have very limited resources and extremely limited time.

Helmsley Ask yourselves, can we really stand by and watch these people die? I read a quote two days ago. The author is probably dead by now, but he said: "The moment we stop fighting for each other, that's the moment that we lose our humanity.

[glares at Anheuser]

Anheuser And in order to save the human race, we have an obligation to stick to this plan, which every nation on this flotilla has signed up for.

Helmsley We have to let these people in-

Anheuser They're in God's hands now! Officer, you turn that off. That is an order, sailor! TURN IT OFF!

[to comms officer]

Professor West Don't you dare touch that button, young man!

[aims cane]

Anheuser Have you completely lost your mind?! LOOK AT THE CLOCK! WE HAVE BARELY 15 MINUTES LEFT! Do you wanna be responsible for the extinction of the human race? Can you handle that, Adrian?

[points to countdown]

Helmsley There's a young astrophysicist from India who's the reason we're all here.

Anheuser Oh, for God's sake.

Helmsley He's the one who discovered it all. He connected all the dots. We all owe him our lives. I just learned that he was killed with his family in a tsunami in eastern India. He was my friend, and he died in vain. Everybody out there has died in vain if we start our future with an act of cruelty. What would you tell your children? What will they tell theirs?

[gets more emotional]

Laura Wilson If my father were here, he would open the gates.

Russian President The people of Russia along with China and Japan, agree... to open the gates.

[looks to fellow heads of state]

German Chancellor The United Kingdom, Spain, France, Canada, Germany and I believe I may also speak for the Italian prime minister, we vote to let these people come in.

Helmsley Captain Michaels. Please.

Capt. Michaels This is the captain. In a few moments, we will open the gates and get you people in. Please step back and clear the platform.

[contemplates, then reaches for radio mike; crowd cheers]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Martian

Weighing Decisions in Life and Death

Annie Montrose But if something goes wrong?

Vincent Kapoor Then we lose the crew.

Bruce Ng So what, we either have a high chance of killing one person, or a low chance of killing six people. How do we make that decision?

Vincent Kapoor We don't. He does.

[pointing to Teddy]

Mitch Henderson Yeah, bullshit. It should be Commander Lewis call.

Teddy Sanders We still have a chance to bring five astronauts home safe and sound. I'm not risking their lives.

Mitch Henderson Let them make that decision.

Teddy Sanders Mitch, we are going with option one.

Mitch Henderson You goddamn coward.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

12 Years a Slave

Debate on Resistance Among Enslaved Individuals

Robert I say we fight.

Solomon Northup The crew is fairly small. If it were well planned, I believe they could be strong armed.

Clemens Three can't stand against a whole crew. The rest here are niggers, born and bred slaves. Niggers ain't got the stomach for a fight, not a damn one.

Robert All I know, we get where we traveling we'll wish we'd died trying.

Clemens Survival is not about certain death, it is about keeping your head down.

Solomon Northup Days ago I was with my family, in my home. Now you tell me all is lost. "Tell no one who I really am" if I want to survive. I don't want to survive, I want to live.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Martian

Assessing Critical Repairs for Space Mission

Mitch Henderson He's not even got to the bad parts yet.

Vincent Kapoor Well, let's get to the bad parts.

Bruce Ng We need to remove the nose LR, the windows, and the whole of panel 19.

Vincent Kapoor You want to take the front of the ship off?

Bruce Ng Sure. The nose alone is 400 kilograms.

Vincent Kapoor You want to send a man into space without the front of his ship?

Bruce Ng Well, no. We are going to have him cover it with HAB canvas. The hull is mostly there to keep air in. Mars atmosphere is so thin, you do not need a lot of streamlining. By the time the ship is going fast enough for air resistance to matter, it'll be high enough that there will be practically no air.

Vincent Kapoor You want to send him into space under a tarp?

Bruce Ng Yes. Can I go on?

Vincent Kapoor NO!

Backrooms

Endless Maze of Confusion

Clark It's like a maze, it just goes on and on.

Backrooms

Beauty in Chaos of Misremembered Spaces

Clark All these places and buildings, rooms, misremembering themselves. It's a real mess, but also beautiful in a way, no?

Backrooms

Exploring the Depths of the Unknown

Clark I've been here every night since I found the place and I still barely scratched the surface.

12 Years a Slave

Question of Origin in 12 Years a Slave

Mary Epps Where you from, Platt?

Solomon Northup I have told you.

Mary Epps Tell me again.

Solomon Northup Washington.

Mary Epps Who were your Master?

Solomon Northup Master name of Freeman.

Mary Epps Was he a learned man?

Solomon Northup I suppose so.

Mary Epps He learn you to read?

Solomon Northup A word here or there, but I have no understanding of the written text.

Mary Epps Don't trouble yourself with it. Same as the rest, Master bought you to work, that's all. Any more'll earn you a hundred lashes.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Democracy's Fragility Compared to Imported Cassava

Trywell Kamkwamba Democracy. Democracy is just like imported cassava. It rots quickly.

Doctor Strange

The True Purpose of a Sorcerer

Pangborn Can I help you?

Mordo They carried you into Kamar-Taj on a stretcher. Look at you now, Pangborn.

Pangborn Mordo. So what can I do for you, man?

Mordo I've been away for many months now, and I've had a revelation. The true purpose of a sorcerer is to twist things out of their proper shape. Stealing power. Perverting nature. Like you.

Pangborn I've stolen nothing. This is my power. Mine.

Mordo Power has a purpose.

Pangborn Why are you doing this?

Mordo Because I see, at long last, what's wrong with the world. Too many sorcerers.

Venom: The Last Dance

Urgent Discussion of Unseen Threat

General Strickland There's something else out here!

Dr. Payne Something else?

Strickland He said this would happen! I just lost three people!

Dr. Payne Can you collect any samples?

Strickland Samples...

12 Years a Slave

Confrontation Over Morality and Power

Solomon Northup Thou devil! Sooner or later, somewhere in the course of eternal justice thou shalt answer for this sin!

[Epps has just whipped Patsey within an inch of her life]

Edwin Epps No sin! There is no sin! A man does how he pleases with his property. At the moment, Platt, I am of great pleasure. You be goddamn careful I don't come to wantin to lightenin my mood no further.

Children of Men

Reflection on Family and Loss

Luke A girl? I had a sister.

[his final words after being told the baby is a girl]

12 Years a Slave

A Free Man's Plea for Recognition

Ford I believe Tibeats is skulkin about the premises somewhere. He wants you dead, and he will attempt to have you so. It's no longer safe for you here. And I don't believe you will remain passive if Tibeats attacks. I have transferred my debt to Edwin Epps. He will take charge of you.

Solomon Northup Master Ford, you must know; I am not a slave.

Ford I cannot hear that.

Solomon Northup Before I came to you I was a free man.

Ford I am trying to save your life! And... I have a debt to be mindful of. That, now, is to Edwin Epps. He is a hard man. Prides himself on being a "nigger breaker." But truthfully I could find no others who would have you. You've made a reputation of yourself. Whatever your circumstances, you are an exceptional nigger, Platt. I fear no good will come of it.

12 Years a Slave

A Request for Trust and Assistance

Solomon Northup The proceeds of my fiddling performances. A few picayunes, but all I have in the world. I promise them to you if you will do me the favor I require. But I beg you not to expose me if you cannot grant the request.

[Solomon awakens Armsby in the middle of the night. He offers him a handful of coins]

Armsby What do you ask?

Solomon Northup First, your word, sir.

Armsby On my honor.

Solomon Northup It is a simple enough request. I ask only that you deposit a letter in the Marksville post office. And that you keep the action an inviolable secret forever. The details of the letter are of no consequence. Even at that, there would be an imposition of much pain and suffering were it known I was the author. A patron is what I require, sir.

Armsby Where is the letter now?

Solomon Northup It is not yet written. I will have it in a day. Two at most, my skill with composition as poor as it is.

Armsby I will do it. And will accept whatever payment is offered.

12 Years a Slave

Confrontation Over Trust and Deceit

Edwin Epps Well, boy. I understand I've got a larned nigger that writes letters and tries to get white fellows to mail em. Well, Armsby tol me today the devil was among my niggers. That I had one that needed close watchin or he would run away. When I axed him why, he said you come over to him and waked him up in the middle of the night and wanted him to carry a letter to Marksville. What have yah got to say to that?

[Having awakened Solomon in the middle of the night, Epps coaxes him outside, puts his arm around him as if consoling a friend, and guides him into the woods]

Solomon Northup There is no truth in it.

Edwin Epps You say.

Solomon Northup How could I write a letter without ink or paper? There is nobody I want to write to cause I hain't got no friends living as I know of. That Armsby is a lying drunken fellow. You know this, just as you know that I am constant in truth. Now, master, I can see what that Armsby is after, plain enough. Didn't he want you to hire him for an overseer? That's it. He wants to make you believe we're all going to run away and then he thinks you'll hire an overseer to watch us. He believes you are soft soap. He's given to such talk. I believe he's just made this story out of whole cloth, cause he wants to get a situation. It's all a lie, master, you may depend on't. It's all a lie.

Edwin Epps Well I'll be damned... Were he not free and white, Platt. Were he not free and white.

[reveals a pocket knife he'd had pressed against Solomon's gut the entire time]

Memorable Quotes from Chiwetel Ejiofor