The Ten Commandments poster

The Ten Commandments Quotes

"The greatest event in motion picture history!"

G 1956 · 3h 40m
78
Audience
78
Audience
32 quotes
A Man of Mud and Titles
Nefretiri First friend of the Pharaoh, Keeper of the Royal Seal, Prince of On, Prince of Memphis, Prince of Thebes, Beloved of the Nile god, Conqueror of Ethiopia, General of Generals, Commander of the Egyptian host...a man of mud!
A Love Cursed by Betrayal
Nefretiri I cursed you. Each time Rameses took me in his arms, I cursed you, not him, because I loved you.
Ramses II on Divine Judgment and Accountability
Ramses II I commend you to your Hebrew god who has no name. If you die, it will be by His hand, not by mine.
[banishing Moses to the desert]
A Power Struggle Between Brothers
Moses Great one, I bring you Ethiopia.
[Trumpets play, Ethiopians step forward]
Rameses Command them to kneel before Pharaoh.
Moses Command what you have conquered my brother.
Pharaoh's Decree to Capture Moses Alive
Ramses II This is work for a butcher, not a Pharaoh. Destroy them all. But bring Moses to me alive.
The Value of Labor and Sacrifice
Baka We use the old ones for greasing the stones. If they are killed it is no loss.
Moses Are you a master builder or a master butcher?
Baka If we stop moving stones for every grease woman who falls, the city will not rise.
Overseer If the slaves are not driven they will not work.
Joshua If their work lags it is because they are not fed.
Moses You look strong enough.
Joshua I am a stone cutter. The pharaoh likes his images cut deep.
Leadership is a Legacy, Not a Birthright
Seti I The man best able to rule Egypt will follow me. I owe that to my fathers, not to my sons.
Building the City for Pharaoh's Will
Seti Would you please your Pharaoh, Moses?
Moses Your wish is my will.
Seti Then you build the city
Rameses A wise decision. Noble task.
[to Moses]
Seti Rameses, do you believe this slave deliverer is a myth?
Rameses What I believe is of no account. What matters is the slaves believe in him.
Seti Of course, of course. Then you, too, shall go to Goshen. Learn if this deliverer be a myth or a man. If a myth, bring him to me in a bottle. If a man, bring him to me in chains.
Rameses So let it be written, so let it be done.
The Consequences of Power and Pride
Nefretiri Does a Pharaoh harden his heart against his son? If you let the Hebrews go, who will build his cities? You told Moses to make bricks without straw. Now he tells you to make cities without bricks. Who is the slave, and who is the Pharaoh? Do you hear laughter, Rameses? Yes. The laughter of kings in Babylon, in Cannan, in Troy, as Egypt surrenders to the god of slaves.
A Prayer for a Son
Memnet What have you found?
Bithiah The answer to my prayers!
Memnet You prayed for a basket?
Bithiah No, I prayed for a son.
Memnet Your husband is in the house of the dead.
Bithiah And he has asked the Nile God to bring me this beautiful boy.
Confrontation Over a Life-Saving Decision
Moses You know it is death to strike an Egyptian.
Joshua I know it.
Moses Yet you struck him. Why?
Joshua To save the old woman.
Moses What is she to you?
Joshua An old woman.
Egyptian Guard Lord Moses, send him to his death!
Moses The man has courage. You do not speak like a slave.
Joshua God made man. Man made slaves.
Moses Which god?
Joshua The God of Abraham, the Almighty God!
Moses If your God is Almighty, why does He leave you in bondage?
Joshua He will choose the hour of our freedom and the man who will deliver us!
Moses Asserts Authority Through Divine Command
Moses You gave me this staff to rule over scorpions and serpents, but God made it a rod to rule over kings. Hear His word, Rameses, and obey.
Royal Robe Identification in Conversation
Memnet Do you know the pattern of this cloth?
[about the Hebrew cloth Moses lies in]
Bithiah If my son is wrapped in it, it is a royal robe!
Power Struggles in Love and Desire
Rameses I know you, my sweet. You're a sharp-clawed, treacherous little peacock. But you're food for the gods, and I'm going to have all of you.
Nefretiri None of me. Did you think my kiss was a promise of what you'll have? No, my pompous one, it was to let you know what you will not have. I could never love you.
Rameses Does that matter? You will be my wife. You will come to me whenever I call you. And I will enjoy that very much. Whether you enjoy it or not is your own affair. But I think you will.
[He leaves; Nefretiri wipes her lips in disgust]
The Essence of Inner Beauty
Moses There is a beauty beyond the senses, Nefretiri. Beauty like the quiet of green valleys and still waters. Beauty of the spirit that you cannot understand.
Desire for Freedom Is Not Treason
Moses It is not treason to want freedom.
Moses Calls Israel to Remember Their Liberation
Moses Hear, O Israel! Remember this day, when the strong hand of the Lord leads you out of bondage!
Ambition Overrides Familial Bonds
Seti Do you mean to tell me he would turn the slaves against me? I've been his father!
Jannes Ambition knows no father.
Naming and Divine Providence in Conversation
Miriam But Mother, we have not even given him a name.
Yochabel God will give him a name.
Bithiah's Prophecy for Moses' Greatness
Bithiah You will be the glory of Egypt, my son. Mighty in words and deeds. Kings shall bow before you. Your name will live on when the pyramids are dust. And...because I drew you from the water, you shall be called Moses. Moses! Moses!
[holding Baby Moses in her arms; playfully and quietly; giggles]
Moses' Triumphant Return to Egypt
Announcer The Lord Moses, Prince of Egypt, son of the Pharaoh's sister, beloved of the Nile god, commander of the Southern Host!
Egyptian 1 Welcome home!
Egyptian 2 Prince Moses!
Jannes The blessing of the god Amun-Ra be upon you, Great Prince! He has brought down the pride of Ethiopia. Yes, that is...
Seti The old windbag.
[as Jannes continues on]
Nefretiri I agree with him.
Questioning Power and Loyalty in Leadership
Baka Will you lose a throne because Moses builds a city?
Wisdom in Leadership and Relationships
Nefretiri You will be king of Egypt and I will be your footstool!
Moses The man stupid enough to use you as a footstool isn't wise enough to rule Egypt.
The Value of Life and Labor
Moses A city is made of brick, Pharaoh. The strong make many. The starving make few. The dead make none. So much for accusations.
Moses Commands the Release of His People
Moses Thus sayeth the Lord God of Israel: "Let my people go!
The Need for Rest and Relief
Rameses Difficulty with the slaves, my brother?
Moses None that could not be cures by a ration of grain and a day of rest.
Rameses A day of rest?
Moses When your horses tire, they're rested. When they hunger, they're fed.
Rameses Slaves draw brick and stone. My horses draw the next Pharaoh.
Moses Is there any grain stored here in Goshen?
Rameses None that you would dare take, my brother.
Joshua The temple granaries are full.
Moses Bring the push-pole men and some women with baskets.
[to Joshua]
Joshua I will...great prince.
Rameses I warn you, Moses, the temple grain belongs to the gods.
Moses What the gods can digest will not sour in the belly of a slave.
Divine Support in Times of Battle
Moses The Lord of Hosts will do battle for us! BEHOLD HIS MIGHTY HAND!!!
A Man's Resolve Against Oppression
Moses It would take more than a man to lead the slaves from bondage. It would take a god. And I am no god, I am but a man. A man who asks by what right any man may enslave another of a different race or creed. But if I could free these people, I would.
Possession and Trust in Relationships
Ramses II You will be mine, like my dog, or my horse, or my falcon, except that I shall love you more - and trust you less.
[To Nefretiri]
Strength and Burdens in Divine Guidance
Yochabel My noble one, it caught. I had not the strength to free myself.
Moses Your shoulder should not bear a burden, old woman.
[begins cutting her loose]
Yochabel The Lord has renewed my strength and lightened my burdens.
Moses He would have done better to remove them.
Loyalty and Power in Leadership
Seti With so many slaves, you could build…an army.
Moses But I have built a city. Sixteen of these lions of Pharaoh will guard its gates. And it shall be the city of Seti's glory.
Seti Mm. Are these slaves loyal to Seti's glory, or to you, Moses?
Moses The slaves worship their God, and I serve only you.
Moses Reflects on His Uncertain Journey
Moses I do not know what power shapes my way, but my feet are set upon a road that I must follow.