Pontius Pilate Quotes in Ben-Hur (1959)

Judah Ben-Hur: You sent for me?

Pontius Pilate: I hope I bring you a good conclusion to your victory. I have a message for you from the consul, your father.

Judah Ben-Hur: I honor him.

Pontius Pilate: As you may honor yourself. You have been made a citizen of Rome.

[pause]

Pontius Pilate: Do you say nothing to this?

Judah Ben-Hur: I have just come from the Valley of Stone where my mother and my sister live what's left of their lives. By Rome's will, lepers; outcasts without hope!

Pontius Pilate: I have heard this. There was great blame there, very deeply regretted.

Judah Ben-Hur: Their flesh is mine, m'lord Pilate. It already carries Rome's mark.

Pontius Pilate: Messala is dead. What he did has had its way with him.

Judah Ben-Hur: The deed was not Messala's. I knew him, well, before the cruelty of Rome spread in his blood. Rome destroyed Messala as surely as Rome has destroyed my family.

Pontius Pilate: Where there is greatness, great government or power, even great feeling or compassion, error also is great. We progress and mature by fault. But Rome has said she is ready to join your life to hers in a great future.

Judah Ben-Hur: There are other voices.

Pontius Pilate: The voice for instance of Arrius, waiting for you in Rome. He would tell you, if I may speak in his place, not to crucify yourself on a shadow such as old resentment or impossible loyalties. Perfect freedom has no existence. A grown man knows the world he lives in, and for the present, the world is Rome. Young Arrius, I am sure, will choose it.

Judah Ben-Hur: I am Judah Ben-Hur.

[long pause; Pilate turns and walks away a few steps, then gestures]

Pontius Pilate: I crossed this floor in spoken friendship, as I would speak to Arrius. But when I go up those stairs I become the hand of Caesar, ready to crush all those who challenge his authority. There are too many small men of envy and ambition who try to disrupt the government of Rome. You have become the victor and hero to these people. They look to you, their one true god as I called you. If you stay here, you will find yourself part of this tragedy.

Judah Ben-Hur: I am already part of this tragedy.

[Judah Ben-Hur takes off Arrius' ring]

Judah Ben-Hur: Return this to Arrius. I honor him too well to wear it any longer.

Pontius Pilate: [taking the ring] Even for the sake of Arrius, I cannot protect you from personal disaster if you stay here. You are too great a danger.

[he turns away and walks up the stairs to the governor's throne]

Pontius Pilate: Leave Judea. You have my warning.

[Judah Ben-Hur then exits Pilate's palace]

Pontius Pilate: A grown man knows the world he lives in. For the moment, that world is Rome.

Pontius Pilate: It seemed to me at the time, Barabbas, when you were given your liberty before, it wasn't a fortunate exchange. They were calling for death and disorder when they called your name. This is what I thought and this is what has occurred. They put the scourge back into the fist. By that I mean you and your life. And many men have suffered and died in consequence.

Barabbas: [referring to Christ] The other man, too. They're dying because of that.

Pontius Pilate: This is a local matter, which I hope will soon be adjusted. The shock and fear of an unreasoning fanaticism will pass. But the appetite to destroy which, alas, the human being shares with the wild beast, is always with us. And it has rigorously to be disciplined in the name of civilization, and according to the law.

Barabbas: That's what you say. But I tell you, whichever side of the law we're on, we're the same men. You and your kind, and me and my kind. How else have you lived except my way? What we haven't got, we go out and take!

[Two guards grab him and pin him down]

Pontius Pilate: Let him speak!

Barabbas: [the guards unhand him, and he continues] Well, how else have you lived except my way? Whoever's against us or gets in our way, we get rid of. My knife may have bitten a few throats, but what about your weapons? They've spit at thousands upon thousands. If I've taken a passing woman to myself, your armies have looted and raped across continents - and have been called the glory of the earth for doing it! You were born according to the law and raised according to the law. I was born by a girl thrown out of a brothel, who gave birth and cursed me before she died. But I tell you, we belong to the same herd.

Pontius Pilate: Unfortunately for you, Barabbas, the law is indispensable. The law is the pass and permit to life in this world. You were without it. However, the law here tells me that a man who has been released by the will of the people at a holy festival cannot thereafter be given a capital punishment.

Barabbas: [long pause, looking shocked] Huh? Y-you can't kill me?

Pontius Pilate: Easier on you if we could. I sentence you to transportation for life, whatever that's worth, to the sulfur mines on the island of Sicily.

Barabbas: [with a stunned look] I... I can't... be killed. He meant me to live... No killing for Barabbas. No death for Barabbas. He died in my place!

Pontius Pilate: My boy, I've heard such ideas, a long time ago. They are dreams - beautiful dreams, I know, but dreams nonetheless.

Flavius, as a Man: Was it a dream that once I knew a man who said "Love thy neighbor as thyself"?

Marcus: There never was such a man, I tell you.

Pontius Pilate: Don't lie to him, Marcus. There was such a man.

Flavius, as a Man: What happened to him?

Pontius Pilate: I crucified Him.

Marcus: He still believes in things.

Pontius Pilate: And you and I are wiser? Perhaps... What is truth?

Pontius Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this just man.

Pontius Pilate: [carelessly, after Marcus has thanked him for a payment] What have I done/

[Suddenly stricken with guilt]

Pontius Pilate: What have I done?

Marcus: Excellency!

Pontius Pilate: Forgive me. I am not myself. Just now I have been forced to condemn a Man. Poor Man, I found no fault in Him. But I must try to keep the peace.

Pontius Pilate: There are Jews from all over the Empire gathering here along the whole of Judea and the disgusting pilgrims from the North. They're the worst, the Galileans. Oh, but I hear you've already put down a little revolt up there.

Tribune: One hundred and seventeen crucified sir.

Pontius Pilate: And the ringleader?

Tribune: Barabbas and the others? We thought...

Pontius Pilate: Ah ah. Public execution of rebels on the day of freedom? Very good tribune.

Tribune: [salutes] Hail Caesar, son of the Gods.

Pontius Pilate: Hail Caesar... but don't let them hear you talk of 'The Gods'.

Pontius Pilate: Who is he, and what has he done?

Ben Azra: Jesus, from Galilee.

Pontius Pilate: Jesus? Oh, is this the man?

Pharisee: He opposes paying taxes to Caesar!

Pontius Pilate: In other words he shares your opinion. And?

Pontius Pilate: Who are you? Where do really come from? Don't you realise I have the power to release you or to crucify you?

Jesus: You would have no power over me if hadn't been given to you from above.

Pontius Pilate: From above? Who are you?

Pontius Pilate: Don't you want your King?

Caiaphas: The only King we want is Caesar, and if you do nothing about this, then you are no friend of Caesar.

Pontius Pilate: ...I'm washing my hands of this... of all of you.

[sighs]

Pontius Pilate: Deal with their King according to Roman law.

Pontius Pilate: There are no such things as miracles. Only fools who believe in them.

Pontius Pilate: [sarcastically] Judea. A fine wedding present your father gave me!

Claudia: My dear Pontius, it is said whoever can govern Jerusalem can govern anywhere, even Rome.

Pontius Pilate: Do you think Tiberius really has me in mind as his successor in Rome?

Claudia: I wish I knew my father's mind as well as I know my husband's ambition.

Pontius Pilate: [Interrogating John the Baptist after Lucius arrested him] Tell me, what is your occupation?

John the Baptist: I do the bidding of the Lord my God.

Pontius Pilate: Judging from your appearance, your God seems to be a rather unprofitable master to serve.

John the Baptist: I do not seek my reward in the world you live in.

Pontius Pilate: Nevertheless, you will find one here.

Pontius Pilate: [Lucius is reporting to Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount] What did the man say?

Lucius: [dryly] He spoke of... peace, love, and the brotherhood of man.

Herod Antipas: Humph! Is that all?

Lucius: That is all.

[Lucius leaves]

Herod Antipas: [noticing Pilate looks puzzled] What is the matter?

Pontius Pilate: The look on Lucius' face.

Herod Antipas: He had a long journey. He looked tired.

Pontius Pilate: He looked more than tired to my eyes.

Pontius Pilate: [In Jerusalem, Pilate and Lucius are concerned Barabbas may be planning an uprising] How many followers has he?

Lucius: Who? God, Jesus, or Barabbas?

Pontius Pilate: Barabbas.

Lucius: How many dissatisfied Jews are there in Jerusalem?

Pontius Pilate: Have you considered the possibility of the followers of Jesus and Barabbas joining forces?

Lucius: I have.

Pontius Pilate: Where would it happen?

Lucius: Since we are here... here!

Pontius Pilate: So, yaw fatha was a Woman? Who was he?

Brian: He was a Centurion, in the Jerusalem Garrisons.

Pontius Pilate: Weally? What was his name?

Brian: 'Naughtius Maximus'.

[the Centurion laughs]

Pontius Pilate: Centuwion, do we have anyone of that name in the gawwison?

Centurion: Well, no, sir.

Pontius Pilate: Well, you sound vewy sure. Have you checked?

Centurion: Well, no, sir. Umm, I think it's a joke, sir... like, uh, 'Sillius Soddus' or... 'Biggus Dickus', sir.

Pontius Pilate: [guard chuckles] What's so funny about "Biggus Dickus? "

Centurion: Well, it's a joke name, sir.

Pontius Pilate: I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called 'Biggus Dickus'.

[guard chuckles]

Pontius Pilate: Silence! What is all this insolence? You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickly with wotten behaviour like that.

Brian: Can I go now, sir?

[slap]

Brian: Aaah! Eh.

Pontius Pilate: Wait till Biggus Dickus hears of this!

[guard chuckles]

Pontius Pilate: Wight! Take him away!

Centurion: Oh, sir, he - he only...

Pontius Pilate: No, no. I want him fighting wabid, wild animals within a week.

Centurion: Yes, sir. Come on, you.

[takes the guard away as continues laughing histerically]

Pontius Pilate: I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy. - - Anybody else feel like a little... giggle... when I mention my fwiend... Biggus...

[another guard chuckles]

Pontius Pilate: ... Dickus?

[more chuckling]

Pontius Pilate: What about you? Do you find it... wisible... when I say the name... 'Biggus'...

[chuckle]

Pontius Pilate: ... Dickus?

[both guards chuckle]

Pontius Pilate: He has a wife, you know. You know what she's called? She's called... 'Incontinentia'... Incontinentia Buttocks

Pontius Pilate: [Guards are laughing] Stop! What is all this?

Pontius Pilate: [laughing continues] I've had enough of this wowdy webel sniggewing behaviour. Silence! Call yourselves Pwaetowian guards? You're not - Seize him! Seize him! Blow your noses and seize him!

Pontius Pilate: [Pilate is going to release a prisoner to the crowd] People of Jewusalum,

[Everybody laughs at his speech impairment]

Pontius Pilate: Wome... is your fwiend!

[They laugh more]

Pontius Pilate: To pwove our fwiendship, we will welease one of our wong-doers! Who shall I welease?

Man in crowd: Welease Woger!

[Everybody laughs, and begin to chant, "Welease Woger"]

Pontius Pilate: Vewy well, I shall... Welease... Woger!

[Everybody laughs]

Centurion: Uh, we haven't got a "Woger", sir.

Pontius Pilate: Oh, okay. We have no "Woger'!

[They all laugh]

Man in crowd: Well what about "Wodewick" then?

[They laugh and chant "Welease Wodewick!"]

Pontius Pilate: Vewy well! I shall welease... Wodewick!

[the crowd laughs some more]

Centurion: Sir, there's no "Wodewick".

Pontius Pilate: Who is this "Wodewick" you speak of?

Man in crowd: He's a wobber!

[they laugh]

Man in crowd: And a wapist!

[more laughter]

Girl In Crowd: And a pick-pocket!

[Everybody shakes their heads at her and say no]

Pontius Pilate: He sounds a notowious cwiminal.

Pontius Pilate: Stwike him, Centuwion. Stwike him vewy wuffly!

Pontius Pilate: He has a wife, you know. Do you know what she's called? She's called... Incontinentia. Incontinentia Buttocks.

Pontius Pilate: He wanks as high as any in Wome!

Pontius Pilate: What is truth, Claudia? Do you hear it, recognize it when it is spoken?

Claudia Procles: Yes, I do. Don't you?

Pontius Pilate: How? Can you tell me?

Claudia Procles: If you will not hear the truth, no one can tell you.

Pontius Pilate: Truth... do you want to know what my truth is, Claudia? I've been putting down rebellions in this rotten outpost for eleven years. If I don't condemn this man I know Caiphas will start a rebellion. If I do condemn him, then his followers may. Either way, there will be bloodshed. Caeser has warned me, Claudia. Warned me twice. He swore that the next time the blood would be mine. That is my truth!

Pontius Pilate: What is truth?

Pontius Pilate: I do not want an uprising.

Abenader: There already is an uprising!

Pontius Pilate: [washing his hands] I am innocent of this man's blood. He is *your* responsibility.

Pontius Pilate: [after the 39 lashes] Where are you from, Jesus? What do you want, Jesus? Tell me! You've got to be careful; you could be dead soon. Could well be! Why do you not speak when I hold your life in my hands? How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand!

Jesus: You have nothing in your hands. Any power you have comes to you from far beyond. Everything is fixed, and you can't change it.

Crowd: Crucify him! Crucify!

Pontius Pilate: What do you mean? You'd crucify your king?

Crowd: We have no king but Caeser!

Pontius Pilate: He's done no wrong! No, not the slightest thing!

Crowd: We have no king but Caeser! Crucify him!

Pontius Pilate: Well, this is new, respect for Caeser! 'Till now, this has been noticeably lacking! Who is this Jesus? Why is he different? You Jews produce Messiahs by the sackful!

Pontius Pilate: Don't let me stop your great self-destruction. Die if you want to you misguided martyr. I wash my hands of your demolition. Die if you want to you innocent puppet.

Pontius Pilate: I dreamed I met a Galilean, a most amazing man. He had that look you very rarely find, the haunting, hunted kind. I asked him to say what had happened, how it all began. I asked again, he never said a word, as if he hadn't heard. And next, the room was full of wild and angry men, they seemed to hate this man. They fell on him and then disappeared again. Then I saw thousands of millions crying for this man, and then I heard them mentioning my name, and leaving me the blame.

Pontius Pilate: Who is this broken man cluttering up my hallway? Who is this unfortunate?

Soldier: Someone Christ, King of the Jews.

Pontius Pilate: Talk to me, Jesus Christ! You have been brought here, manacled, beaten by your own people! Do you have the first idea why you deserve it? Listen, King of the Jews, where is your kingdom? Look at me! Am I a Jew?

Jesus: I have no kingdom. In this world, I'm through.

Crowd: Talk to me, Jesus Christ...

Jesus: There may be a kingdom for me somewhere, if you only knew.

Pontius Pilate: Look at your Jesus Christ! I'll agree, he's mad! Ought to be locked up, but there is no reason to destroy him! He's a sad little man! Not a king or God, not a thief! I need a crime!

Pontius Pilate: And so the king is once again my guest. And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?

Pontius Pilate: [to Jesus after the 39 lashes] You're a fool, Jesus Christ! How can I help you?

Pontius Pilate: Then you are a king?

Jesus: It's you that say I am. I look for truth, and find that I get damned.

Pontius Pilate: And what is "truth"? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?

Pontius Pilate: I see no reason! I find no evil! This man is harmless, so why does he upset you? He's just misguided! Thinks he's important! But to keep you vultures happy, I shall f-log him!

Pontius Pilate: It's one thing to want to change the way people live... but you want to change how they think, how they feel.

Jesus: All I'm saying is that change will happen with love, not with killing.

Pontius Pilate: Either way, it's dangerous. It's against Rome. It's against the way the world is. And killing or loving, it's all the same. It simply doesn't matter how you want to change things. We don't want them changed.

Pontius Pilate: Unfortunately for you, we don't want things changed.

Pontius Pilate: Even my wife had an opinion.

Pontius Pilate: Give me water to wash my hands.

Commander Claudius: Why waste a slave?

Pontius Pilate: Why not? The world's full of them.

Pontius Pilate: I am innocent of this man's blood. I am innocent of this man's blood.