The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - Quotes

Alien Threat to Earth Explored

Taglines: What is this invader from another planet... Can it destroy the Earth?

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Alien Threat to Earth Revealed

Taglines: Strange Power From Another Planet Menaces The Earth!

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Unprecedented Creature from the Screen

Taglines: The screen has never conceived a creature like this!

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A Robot and a Man from Another Planet

Taglines: A robot and a man . . . hold the world spellbound with new and startling powers from another planet!

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A Warning and Ultimatum from Space

Taglines: From Out Of Space... A Warning And An Ultimatum!

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Warning about Gort's potential actions

Klaatu: I'm worried about Gort. If anything should happen to me, I'm worried about what he might do.

Helen Benson: [[robot] Gort? But he's a ]. Without you, what can he do?

Klaatu: There's no limit to what he can do! He could destroy the Earth. Helen: if anything should happen to me, go to Gort, and repeat these words: Klaatu… barada… nikto.

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The Consequences of Rejection

Barnhardt: One thing, Mr. Klaatu: suppose this group should reject your proposals. What is the alternative?

Klaatu: I'm afraid there is no alternative. In such a case, the planet Earth would have to be... eliminated.

Barnhardt: Such power exists?

Klaatu: I assure you, such power exists.

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Curiosity Drives Understanding Between Klaatu and Barnhardt

Klaatu: [[faith] You have ], Professor Barnhardt?

Barnhardt: [[science] It isn't faith that makes good ], Mr. Klaatu, it's curiosity. Sit down, please. There are several thousand questions I'd like to ask you.

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Speculating on the source of power

Bobby: What d'you think it runs on?

Klaatu: A highly refined form of atomic power, I imagine.

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Understanding Sacrifice and Loss in War

Bobby: [indicating grave marker during a visit to Arlington] That's my father. He was killed at Anzio.

Klaatu: [[war] Did all those people die in ]s?

Bobby: Most of em. Didn't you ever hear of the Arlington Cemetery?

Klaatu: No, I'm afraid not.

Bobby: You don't seem to know much about anything, do you, Mr. Carpenter?

Klaatu: Well, I'll tell you, Bobby, I've been away a long time. Very far away.

Bobby: Is it different where you've been? Don't they have places like this?

Klaatu: Well, they have cemeteries, but not like this one. You see, they don't have any wars.

Bobby: Gee, that's a good idea.

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Impatience and Human Stupidity Explored

Mr. Harley: Your impatience is quite understandable.

Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.

Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I'm very sorry... I wish it were otherwise.

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The Choice Between Peace and Obliteration

Klaatu: [[universe; [freedom; [law; [robots; [peace; [violence] I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The ] grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any ] except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made ]s to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We of the other planets have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of ]. Their function is to patrol the planets—in space ships like this one—and preserve the ]. In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us; this power can not be revoked. At the first sign of ], they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. The result is that we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war—free to pursue more profitable enterprises. Now, we do not pretend to have achieved perfection, but we do have a system, and it works. I came here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet. But if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple: Join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer; the decision rests with you.

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