15 quotes
Humanizing the Fighter's Struggle
Duke
You got him hurt bad. Now he's worried. You cut him! You hurt him! You see? You see? He's not a machine. He's a man! You want it more than he does! No pain! Take it to him!
[to Rocky after seeing Drago close to cracking under the strain; Duke repeats it three times, and Rocky echoes him each time]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Casual Check-In Between Rocky and Adrian
Adrian
Rocky?
Rocky
Yeah?
Adrian
You alright?
Rocky
Yeah I'm fine.
Adrian
Why'd you do it?
Rocky
I just gotta do what I gotta do.
Adrian
You don't have to do anything
Rocky
No, Adrian, I do and I gotta leave this place too.
Adrian
So where are you going?
Rocky
They said they're gonna let me train in Russia and I just want to be somewhere where I ain't gonna think about nothing except him.
Adrian
Rocky, give it some time. Don't do this. A lot of people live with hurt.
Rocky
A lot of people don't have a choice, Adrian, I do.
Adrian
And for that you're willing to lose everything?
Rocky
Adrian this isn't everything. The house, the cars and all the stuff we got. That ain't everything. There's a lot more than this, Adrian.
Adrian
Before there were reasons to fight I could understand. But I don't understand this. Even if you win, what have you won? Apollo's still gone. Why can't you change your thinking? Everybody else does.
Rocky
Cause I'm a fighter! That's how I'm made, Adrian. That's what you married. We can't change what we are.
Adrian
Yes you can.
[Softly]
Rocky
We can't change anything, Adrian. All we can do is just go with what we are.
Adrian
You can't go with what you are. You've read the papers, it's suicide! You've seen him. You know how strong he is! YOU CAN'T WIN!
Rocky
Oh, Adrian. Adrian always tells the truth. No maybe I can't win. Maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he's got. But to beat me he's gonna have to kill me, and to kill me he's gotta have the guts to stand in front of me, and to do that he's gotta be willin to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that. I don't know. I don't know.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Fight's End: A Champion's Decision
Rocky
Champ, look, I gotta stop it. This fight's finished! I gotta call it!
Apollo Creed
No, no.
Rocky
Look, champ, you can't do no more out there!
Apollo
I'm here to fight.
Rocky
He's killing ya. I gotta stop this thing.
Apollo
I'm here to fight, promise me you're not gonna stop this fight.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Call to Fight Together Again
Apollo Creed
We always have to be in the middle of the action cause we're the warriors. And without some challenge, without some damn war to fight then the warriors might as well be dead, Stallion. Now I'm asking you - as a friend - stand by my side this one last time.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Final Round: Determination and Disagreement
Rocky
What round is it?
Duke
15. One more round. There's no stoppin us now. This is our round.
Duke
No stoppin now! You start and you don't stop! All your strength! All your power! All your love! Everything you've got!
Nicolai Koloff
You trained this fool. He's a disgrace. Listen to them.... Our people cheer for HIM!... You idiot! WIN!
[in Russian; Вы обучили этого дурака. Он позор.; to Drago; Послушай их ....; Наши люди болеют за Него! ... Ты идиот.; shoves Drago's head; ВЫИГРАТЬ!]
Ludmilla Drago
No!
[shouts to Drago, in Russian; Нет!!; Drago drops Koloff]
Ivan Drago
I fight to win! For me! FOR ME!!
[to Koloff, in Russian; Я борюсь, чтобы победить! Для меня!; turns to the Soviet Poliburo; '''''ДЛЯ МЕНЯ!!''''']
Duke
To win, you gotta knock him out! Punch and punch, till you can't punch no more! This is your whole life here!
Paulie
Yeah, knock him out, Rocko.
Duke
Do it now! Now!!
[as bell rings]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Tribute to Friendship and Respect
Paulie Pennino
I know sometimes I act stupid and I say stupid things, but you kept me around and other people would have said "drop that bum". You give me respect. You know it's kinda hard for me to say these kinda things, cuz it ain't my way, but if I could just unzip myself and step out and be someone else, I'd wanna be you. You're all heart, Rock.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Rocky's Decision on Championship Status
Female Reporter
Rocky, is the decision final?
Rocky
Yes.
Male Reporter #1
Is this the first time the champion has given up his crown?
Rocky
I don't know about that.
Male Reporter #2
Doesn't the title matter?
Rocky
Not until this is over.
Male Reporter #3
Considering Rocky's punching power, do you still expect an easy fight?
Rimsky
Yes, of course.
Nicolai Koloff
It's a matter of size and...evolution. Isn't it, gentlemen? Drago is the most perfectly trained athlete ever. This other man has not the size, or the endurance, or the genetics to win. It's physically impossible for this little man to win. Drago...is a look at the future.
Male Reporter #4
Champ, how much are you making for this fight?
Rocky
No money. It's not about money.
Female Reporter
Has the fight date been set yet?
Rocky
December 25th.
Male Reporter #1
Why Christmas?
Rocky
That's what I was told.
Female Reporter
Where?
Rocky
...It's in Russia.
Paulie
Are you nuts?
Male Reporter #2
Rocky, what's going on?
Koloff
We fight in Soviet Union, or we fight nowhere. Why don't you ask Drago's wife why she is afraid? Tell them, please.
Ludmilla Drago
I'm afraid for my husband's life. We have threats of violence everywhere. We're not in politics. All I want is for my husband to be safe, and to be treated fairly. You call him a killer. He's a professional fighter, not a killer. You have this belief that you are better than us. You have this belief that this country is so very good, and we are so very bad. You have this belief that you are so fair and we are so very cruel.
Koloff
It's all lies and false propaganda to support this antagonistic and violent government.
Paulie
Whoa. Violent? Hey, we don't keep our people behind a wall with machine guns.
[miffed at remark]
Koloff
Who are you?
Paulie
Who am I? I'm...the unsilent majority, bigmouth!
[tries to attack Koloff]
Koloff
Good! Yes, good! Insult us! Is more typical rude behavior towards visiting foreigners! But perhaps this simple defeat of this little so-called champion will be a perfect example of how pathetically weak your society has become. We go!
[points to Rocky; leaves press conference with Ludmilla]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Power of Change and Understanding
Rocky Balboa
I came here tonight, I didn't know what to expect. I seen a lot of people hate me and I didn't know what to feel about that so I guess I didn't like you much neither. During this fight, I've seen a lot of changing, the way you felt about me, and in the way I felt about you. In here, there were two guys killing each other, but I guess that's better than 20 million. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!
[addresses Russian crowd after the fight, with Russian announcer as translator]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Determination to Overcome Adversity
Ivan Drago
I must break you.
[To Rocky before their fight]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflection on Apollo's Legacy
Rocky Balboa
There's a lot I could say about this man, but I don't know if it matters now. I guess what matters is what he stood for, what he lived for, and what he died for. You always did everything the way you wanted it. And I didn't understand that, but now I understand. I'll never forget you, Apollo. You're the best.
[remembers Creed at his funeral]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Champion Stands Tall Amidst East-West Clash
Taglines
When East Meets West, the Champion remains standing
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Anticipating the Next Global Conflict
Taglines
Get ready for the next world war.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation About Fear and Return
Rocky Jr.
When will you be back?
[Before Rocky leaves for Russia]
Rocky
Pretty soon.
Rocky Jr.
Are you scared?
Rocky
No.
Rocky Jr.
Not even a little?
Rocky
Wouldn't you be?
Rocky Jr.
If a big giant man wanted to beat me up I'd be real scared.
Rocky
Well, the truth is sometimes I do get a little scared when I'm in that ring and when I'm going to get hit or when my arm hurts so much I can't even lift it and I'm thinking I wish this guy hit me in the chin so I won't feel nothing anymore then there's another side that comes out that wants to take more wants to go one more round because if I go one more round when you don't think you can, that makes all the difference in your life.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Target the Right Opponent in Battle
Duke
Alright, what's happening out there?
Rocky
He's winning...I see three of him out there.
Paulie
Hit the one in the middle!
Duke
Right! Hit the one in the middle!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Acceptance of Consequences in Competition
Ivan Drago
If he dies, he dies.
[coldly interviewed about possibly having killed Apollo Creed during their fight]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.