Robert the Bruce Quotes in Braveheart (1995)

Robert the Bruce: You have bled with Wallace, now bleed with me.

Robert the Bruce: Lands, titles, men, power, nothing.

Robert's Father: Nothing?

Robert the Bruce: I have nothing. Men fight for me because if they do not, I throw them off my land and I starve their wives and their children. Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk, they fought for William Wallace, and he fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him, when I betrayed him. I saw it in his face on the battlefield and it's tearing me apart.

Robert's Father: All men betray. All lose heart.

Robert the Bruce: I don't want to lose heart. I want to believe as he does.

Robert the Bruce: I'm not a coward. I want what you want, but we need the nobles.

William Wallace: We need them?

Robert the Bruce: Aye.

William Wallace: Nobles.

[laughs a little]

William Wallace: Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don't follow titles, they follow courage. Now our people know you. Noble, and common, they respect you. And if you would just lead them to freedom, they'd follow you. And so would I

Robert's Father: At last, you know what it means to hate. Now you're ready to be a king.

Robert the Bruce: My hate will die with you.

Robert the Bruce: I respect what you said, but remember that these men have lands and castles. It's much to risk.

William Wallace: And the common man, who bleeds on the battlefield, does he risk less?

Robert the Bruce: [Robert the Bruce is visiting his leper father] Father?

Robert's Father: Ah, come in. Come in.

Robert the Bruce: A rebellion has begun.

Robert's Father: [pause] Under whom?

Robert the Bruce: A commoner... named William Wallace.

Robert's Father: [another pause] You will embrace this rebellion. Support it from our lands in the north. I will gain English favor by condemning it and ordering opposed from our lands in the south. Sit down. Stay awhile.

Robert the Bruce: This Wallace... he doesn't even have a knighthood. But he *fights*, with *passion*, and he *inspires*.

Robert's Father: [laughing] And you wish to charge off and fight as he did, eh?

[Robert nods slightly]

Robert's Father: So would I, eh?

[he laughs again]

Robert the Bruce: Well, maybe it's time.

Robert's Father: [the elder man stops laughing] 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 the Bruce: But, they do nothing but talk.

Robert's Father: 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 on the throne of England. And none of us, and nothing of Scotland will remain, unless *we* are as ruthless. Give ear to our nobles. Knowing their minds is the key to the throne.

Robert the Bruce: Now, you've achieved more than anyone ever dreamed. But, fighting these odds, it looks like rage, not courage.

William Wallace: It's well beyond rage. Help me. In the name of Christ, help yourselves. Now is our chance. Now. If we join, we can win. If we win, well then we'll have what none of us has ever had before: a country of our own.

Robert's Father: Longshanks required Wallace. So did our nobles. That was the price of your crown.

Robert the Bruce: DIE. I want you to die.

Robert's Father: I'm the one who's rotting, but I think your face looks graver than mine. Son, we must have alliance with England to prevail here. You achieved that. You saved your family; increased your land. In time you will have all the power in Scotland.

Robert the Bruce: Lands, titles, men, power... Nothing.

Robert's Father: Nothing?

Robert the Bruce: I have nothing. Men fight for me because if they do not, I throw them off my land and I starve their wives and children. Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk fought for William Wallace. He fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him when I betrayed him. I saw it in his face on the battlefield and it's tearing me apart.

Robert's Father: All men betray. All lose heart.

Robert the Bruce: I don't want to lose heart! I want to believe as he does... I will never be on the wrong side again.