31 quotes
The True Measure of a Soldier
William
Well, a test of a soldier is not in his arm, it's here.
[points at his head]
Hamish
No, it's here.
[points at his arm]
William
Hamish?
Hamish
Uh huh.
Campbell
Here you go, son. Show him how. Come on! Haha, my boy!
[giving Hamish a huge rock]
William
That's a good throw.
Hamish
Ay. Ay, it was.
William
I was wondering if you could do that when it matters. That is, as is
Hamish
I could crush you, like a worm.
William
You could?
Hamish
Ay.
William
Well then do it. Would you like to see him crush me like a worm?
[to the crowd]
Crowd
Ay!
William
Then do it.
Hamish
You'll move.
William
I will not.
Campbell
He'll move.
Campbell
Fine display, young Wallace.
William
You alright? You look a wee bit shaky.
[to Hamish]
Hamish
I should have remembered the rocks.
William
Ay, you should have. Get up you big heap. It's good to see you
[A Scottish dancing jig begins to play]
Hamish
Ay, welcome home.
Toothless Girl
William, will you dance with me?
William
Of course I will.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Secrets Unraveled in a Time of Chaos
Nicolette
When the king returns, he will bury them in those new clothes. Scotland is in chaos. Your husband is secretly sending an army north.
Isabella
How do you know this?
Nicolette
Last night, I slept with a member of the War Council.
Isabella
He shouldn't be telling secrets in bed!
Nicolette
Englishmen don't know what a tongue is for.
Isabella
This Scottish rebel, Wallace. He fights to avenge a woman?
[scoffs]
Nicolette
I nearly forgot. A magistrate wished to capture him and found he had a secret lover. So, he cut the girl's throat to tempt Wallace to fight, and fight he did. Knowing his passion for his lost love, they next plotted to take him by desecrating the graves of his father and brother and setting an ambush at the grave of his love. He fought his way through the trap and carried her body to a secret place. Now that's love, no?
Isabella
Love? I wouldn't know.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Divine Conversations and Mortal Questions
Stephen
Him? That can't be William Wallace. I'm prettier than this man. All right Father, I'll ask him. If I risk my neck for you, will I get a chance to kill Englishmen?
[laughs, speaking heavenward; Heavenward; to William]
Hamish
Is your father a ghost, or do you converse with the Almighty?
Stephen
In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God. Yes, Father! The Almighty says don't change the subject, just answer the fuckin question.
[Heavenward; to William and Hamish]
Hamish
Mind your tongue.
Campbell
Insane Irish.
Stephen
Smart enough to get a dagger past your guards, old man.
William
That's my friend, Irishman. And the answer to your question is yes, if you fight for me, you get to kill the English.
Stephen
Excellent! Stephen is my name. I'm the most wanted man on my island. Except I'm not on my island of course. More's the pity.
[puts knife away]
Hamish
Your island? You mean Ireland.
Stephen
Yeah, it's mine.
Hamish
You're a madman.
Stephen
I've come to the right place then.
[laughs]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Legacy of a Scottish King
Robert the Bruce
* Opening narration
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A Call to Arms and Honor
Stephen
The Almighty says this must be a fashionable fight. It's drawn the finest people.
Lochlan
Where is thy salute?
William
For presenting yourselves on this battlefield, I give you thanks.
Lochlan
This is our army. To join it you give homage.
William
I give homage to Scotland. And if this is your army, why does it go?
Veteran
We didn't come here to fight for them.
Young Soldier
Home! The English are too many!
William
Sons of Scotland! I am William Wallace.
Young Soldier
William Wallace is seven feet tall!
William
Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds. And if he were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his ], and bolts of ] from his arse. I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my country men here in defiance of ]. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
[[eyes; [lightning; the Scots laugh; [tyranny]
Veteran
Fight? Against that? No, we will run. And we will live.
William
Aye. Fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live...at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take...OUR FREEDOM!!!
William
]!!! (SCOTLAND FOREVER!!!)
[[w:Alba gu bràth|ALBAAA GU BRÀÀÀTH]
Soldiers
Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Impending Threat of Heavy Cavalry
William
You know, eventually Longshanks will send his whole Northern Army against us.
Campbell
Heavy cavalry, armored horse; shake the very ground.
Hamish
They'll ride right over us.
William
Uncle Argyle used to talk about it; how no army had ever stood up to a charge of heavy horse.
Hamish
So what'll we do?
Campbell
Run, hide, the highland way.
William
We'll make spears. Hundreds of them! Long spears, twice as long as a man.
[looking at the trees]
Hamish
That long?
William Wallace
Aye.
Hamish
Some men are longer than others.
Campbell
Your mother been telling you stories about me again, eh?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Young Hero's Determination to Help
Malcolm
Where do you think you're going?
Young William
I'm going with you.
Malcolm
Oh, you're going with, are ya? And what are you going to do?
Young William
I'm gonna help.
Malcolm
Hey, and a good help you'd be, too. But I need you to stay here and look after the place for me while I'm away.
[''takes William off the horse'']
Young William
I can fight!
Malcolm
I know. I know you can fight. But it's our wits that make us men. See you tomorrow.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Fear and the Quest for Courage
Sir William Wallace
I'm so afraid. Give me the ] to ] well.
[[strength; [die]
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Strategic Sacrifice in Warfare
King Edward I "Longshanks
Not the archers. My scouts tell me their archers are miles away and no threat to us. Arrows cost money. Use up the Irish. The dead cost nothing.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Question of Direction in Braveheart
Craig
Sir William, where are you going?
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A Reminder of Kingship Responsibilities
King Edward I "Longshanks
Someday, you will be king, at least try to act like one!
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Dealing with a Scottish Brigand
Longshanks
Scottish nobles have routed one of my garrisons, and murdered the noble lord.
Edward
I heard. This Wallace is a brigand, nothing more.
Longshanks
And how would you deal with this brigand?
Edward
Like any common thief. Have the local magistrate arrest him and punish him accordingly.
Longshanks
Leave us. Wallace has already killed the magistrate, and taken control of the town. Stand up. Stand up! In the morning, I depart for France to press our rights there, and I leave you here to quell this little rebellion. Understood? Is it? One day, you will be a king. At least try to act like one.
[to advisors; Longshanks' advisors leave the room, and he strikes Edward hard across the face, knocking him to the ground; he pulls Edward to his feet; Edward nods nervously]
Edward
Get away from me! Convene my military council!
[to Philip]
Nicolette
I hope your husband to Scotland and meets Wallace, and then you'll be a widow.
[to Isabelle]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Betrayal and Offers in Battle Negotiations
Cheltham
Mornay, Lochlan, Craig. Here are the king's terms. Lead this army off field and he will give you each estates in Yorkshire, including hereditary title, from which you will pay- from which you will pay him an annual duty-
William
I have an offer for you.
Mornay
Cheltham, this is William Wallace.
Cheltham
From which you will pay the king an annual duty-
William
I said I have an offer for you.
Lochlan
You disrespect a banner of truce?
William
From his king? Absolutely. Here are Scotland's terms. Lower your flags, and march straight back to England, stopping at every home you pass by to beg forgiveness for a hundred years of theft, rape, and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today.
Cheltham
You are outmatched. You have no heavy cavalry. In two centuries no army has won without—
[laughs]
William
I'm not finished! Before we let you leave, your commander must cross that field, present himself before this army, put his head between his legs, and kiss his own arse.
Mornay
I'd say that was rather less cordial than he was used to.
William
You be ready and do exactly as I say. On my signal, ride round behind our position and flank them.
Mornay
We must not divide our forces!
William
Do it. And let the English see you do it.
Mornay
They'll think we're running away?
William
Aye. Take out their archers. I'll meet you in the middle.
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Scotland's Freedom Declaration by Wallace
Sir William Wallace
I am ]! The rest of you will be spared. Go back to ], and tell them there, that ]'s daughters and her sons are yours no more! Tell them Scotland is free!
[[William Wallace; [England; [Scotland]
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A Proposal Amidst Farm Life Ambitions
William
Of course, running a farm is a lot of work, but that will all change when my sons arrive.
Murron
So, you've got children?
[confused]
William
Not yet, but I was hoping you could help me with that.
Murron
So, you want me to marry you then?
William
Well, that's a bit sudden, but alright.
Murron
Is that what you call a proposal?
William
I love you, always have. I want to marry you. Is that a "yes?
[Murron kisses him]
Murron
Aye, that's a "yes.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Follow Your Heart with Courage
Malcolm Wallace
Your ] is ]. Have the ] to follow it.
[[heart; [free; [courage]
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A Moment of Prayer Before Execution
Sir William Wallace
* Praying before his execution
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Training with Stones as a Test of Strength
William
You dropped your rock.
Hamish
Test of manhood.
William
You win.
Hamish
Call it a test of soldiery, then. The English won't let us train with weapons, so we train with stones.
William
Well, the test of a soldier is not in his arm, it's here.
[points at his head]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Spirit of Scottish Freedom
Sir William Wallace
In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom.
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Political Intrigue and Royal Alliances
Robert the Bruce
Many years later, Edward the Longshanks, King of England, supervised the wedding of his eldest son, who would succeed him to the throne. As bride for his son, Longshanks had chosen the daughter of his rival: the ]. It was widely whispered, that for the princess to conceive, Longshanks would have to do the honors himself. That may have been what he had in mind all along.
[[w:Philip IV of France|King of France]
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King Edward I on Land Distribution in Scotland
King Edward I "Longshanks
I gave Mornay double his lands in Scotland, matching estates in England. Lochlan turned for... for much less.
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The Aftermath of Wallace's Execution
Robert the Bruce
After the beheading, William Wallace's body was torn to pieces. His head was set on London Bridge, his arms and legs sent to the four corners of Britain as a warning. It did not have the effect that Longshanks planned. And I, Robert the Bruce, rode out to pay homage to the armies of the English King and accept his endorsement of my crown.
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The Legacy of William Wallace
Robert the Bruce
I shall tell you of William Wallace. Historians from ] will say I am a ], but ] is written by those who have hanged ]. The ] had died without a son and the King of England, a cruel pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, claimed the throne of Scotland for himself. Scotland's nobles fought him, and fought each other, over the crown. So Longshanks invited them to talks of truce — no weapons, one page only. Among the farmers of that shire was Malcolm Wallace, a commoner with his own lands. He had two sons, John and William.
[[England; [liar; [history; [heroes; [w:Alexander III of Scotland|King of Scotland]
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Authority and Loyalty in Leadership
Longshanks
Scotland. My land. The French will grovel to anyone with strength, but how will they believe our strength when we cannot rule the whole of our own island?! Where is my son?
[Isabelle walks in]
Isabelle
Pardon, my lord. He asked me to come in his stead.
Longshanks
I sent for him, and he sends you?
Isabelle
Shall I leave, my lord?
Longshanks
If he wants his queen to rule when I am gone, then by all means, stay and learn how. Please. Nobles. Nobles are the key to the door of Scotland. Grant our nobles lands in the north, give their nobles estates here in England, and make them too greedy to oppose us.
Advisor
But sire, our nobles will be reluctant to uproot. New lands mean new taxes and they are already taxed for the war in France.
Longshanks
Are they? Are they? The trouble with Scotland... is that it's full of Scots! Perhaps the time has come to reinstitute an old custom. Grant them prima noctes. First night, when any common girl inhabiting their lands is married, our nobles shall have sexual rights to her on the night of her wedding. If we can't get them out, we'll breed them out. That should fetch just the kind of lords we want to Scotland, taxes or no taxes, eh?
[glaring at Isabelle; Longshanks' advisors laugh]
Advisor
A most excellent idea, sire.
Longshanks
Is it?
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Discrepancy in Soldier Count Discussed
Lord Bottoms
I have dispatched a hundred soldiers to Lanark. They will be returning now!
William
Were they dressed like this? Actually, it was more like fifty.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Longshanks' Order for Wallace's Capture
King Edward I "Longshanks
Bring me Wallace, alive if possible, dead ... just as good.
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A Rebellion Under William Wallace
Robert
A rebellion has begun.
The Leper
Under whom?
Robert
A commoner... named William Wallace.
The Leper
We will embrace this rebellion. You will support it from our lands in the north while I gain English favor by condemning it, and ordering it opposed from our lands in the south. Sit down. Stay a while.
Robert
This Wallace, he doesn't even have a knighthood, but he fights with passion and he inspires.
The Leper
And you wish to charge off and fight as he did. So would I.
[laughs]
Robert
Well, maybe it's time.
The Leper
It is time to survive. You're the seventeenth Robert Bruce. The sixteen before you passed you land and title because they didn't charge in. Call a meeting of the nobles.
Robert
But they do nothing but talk.
The Leper
Rightly so. They're as rich in English titles and lands as they are in Scottish, just as we are. You admire this man, this William Wallace. Uncompromising men are easy to admire. He has courage, so does a dog. But it is exactly the ability to compromise that makes a man noble. And understand this: Edward Longshanks is the most ruthless king ever to sit upon the throne of England. And none of us, and nothing of Scotland will remain, unless we are as ruthless. Give an ear to our nobles. Knowing their minds is the key to the throne.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Recognition in Unexpected Moments
William
How did you know me after so long?
Murron
Why, I didn't.
William
No?
Murron
It's just that I saw you staring at me and I didn't know who you were.
William
Oh sorry, I suppose I was. Are you in the habit of riding off in the rain with strangers?
Murron
It was the best way to make you leave.
William
Well, if I can ever work up the courage to ask you again, I'll send you a written warning first.
Murron
Oh, it wouldn't do you much good. I can't read.
William
Can you not?
Murron
No.
William
Well that's something we shall have to remedy, isn't it.
Murron
You're going to teach me to read, then?
William
Aye, if you like.
Murron
Aye.
William
In what language?
Murron
Are you showing off now?
William
That's right. Are you impressed yet?
Murron
No. Why should I be?
William
Yes. Because every single day I thought about you.
[in French]
Murron
Do that standing on your head and I'll be impressed.
William
My kilt may fly up but I'll try.
Murron
You certainly didn't learn any manners on your travels.
William
I'm afraid the Romans have far worse manners than I.
Murron
You've been to Rome?
William
Aye, my uncle took me on a pilgrimage.
Murron
What was it like?
William
Not nearly as beautiful as you.
[in French]
Murron
What does that mean?
William
Beautiful. But I belong here.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Freedom and the spirit of resistance
Sir William Wallace
* Closing narration
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King Edward I's View on Scotland
King Edward I "Longshanks
The trouble with Scotland...is that it's full of Scots!
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A Desire for Peace and Legacy
Campbell
Your father was a fighter! And a patriot.
William
I know who my father was. I came back home to raise crops and, God willing, a family. If I can live in peace, I will.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.