Sappho Quotes in The Warrior Empress (1960)

Sappho: Immortal Aphrodite, Goddess of Flowers, Skilled in all Arts of Love, Daughter of Zeus, I pray thee, Come now, oh Queen, on thy winged chariot. And all that my heart desires to accomplish, accomplish thou. And be, thyself, my ally.

Actis: You seem dazed by his words.

Sappho: What are you saying, Actis?

Actis: I'm ashamed of you. Don't you understand? You must never trust them. Never. Men bring only deceit, hatred and lies.

Sappho: They must have made you suffer very much.

Actis: I hate them! They dazzle you with their insolent glances. You don't know them. But, as long as I'm alive, they'll never harm you. You're the only dear friend I'll ever have, Sappho.

Phaon: Where am I? Who are you?

Sappho: Don't be afraid, you're safe. This is the temple of Aphrodite.

Phaon: Aphrodite? Are you Aphrodite?

Sappho: Oh, no. I'm just a woman from Mytilini.

Sappho: You can marry Helene. You can have her if you like.

Phil: I'm not a Turk. I can't have two wives. It's in the rules.

Sappho: Don't be so boring, Phil. There are no rules in this game. There's nothing we can imagine that's not allowed. What's love is love.

Phil: Well, what's loyalty is that too. Don't you care if I sleep with other women now?

Sappho: You can sleep with other boys too if you like.

[to Helene]

Sappho: Will you marry my husband?

Helene: Yes.

Sappho: Then it's perfect. It's all that simple. We can all be married to one another.

Phil: And? What comes next?

Helene: It's lost. We'll never know.

Sappho: Perhaps we should decide for ourselves.

Phil: Don't you understand? Nothing good will come out of this game. All of us being together will not last. We'll take sides, get jealous, and start to hate one another.

Sappho: Just like it happens when two normal people get married?

Phil: Maybe. But that's how it is most times. It's the way nature meant it to be.

Sappho: [to Helene] You see Helene, that's what makes Phil a bad painter. He paints ordinary pictures that ordinary people will buy.

Sappho: I love you.

Helene: Why?

Sappho: Do I need a reason? I just do.

Helene: Don't you care about Phil?

Sappho: Of course I care about Phil. But making love with you feels just right.

Helene: But that's where you're wrong. This is how girls fool around when there are no men around.

Sappho: How is a woman making love to another woman any different then a woman making love to a man?

Helene: Have you come to say goodbye?

Sappho: Goodbye?

Helene: Aren't you going home? To America?

Sappho: I am home. This is Lesbos... and I am a lesbian. I've always known who I am. This is my home.

Helene: It's so boring here. You are welcome to it.

Sappho: It's like always a never. The sea breaking against the rocks. The one always wanting. It's the hardest thing loving someone who doesn't love you.

Helene: I'm sorry. It's not my fault.

Sappho: Come and be my girl. To feel your face and hear your footsteps, I'd give the world.

Helene: I am a woman now. I have made love to you and your husband. I want a husband of my own and children. You can't give me what I want.