Quo Vadis (1951)

Deborah Kerr: Lygia

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Quotes 

• Lygia : [to Vinicius, after he has been revived following a scuffle involving Ursus and the gladiator Croton]  Ursus wishes to speak to you.

  Vinicius : [to Ursus]  Yes?

  Ursus : [to Vinicius, addressing him in the third person]  I want to ask the commander's forgiveness. I killed his friend.

  Vinicius : You killed Croton? Ha ha! Good man! I told you you'd be a champion! Kill the old Greek too?

  Ursus : The other man disappeared.

  Vinicius : I'll wager he did, and fast!

• Vinicius : And as for the women of Gaul... well, their hair is like the frazzled ends of rope. Not a soft, red-gold crown with stars in it. And their palm was the hide of a wild boar. Not like this soft...

  Lygia : At least that proves they are diligent.

  Vinicius : Yes, at building mud huts. But not in bringing a man's thoughts to life.

• Lygia : Ten big, strong Praetorian Guards to support my eagerness to come.

  Vinicius : Well said, Lygia. But you know a caravan of rare merchandise is always well-guarded.

• Lygia : But, Marcus, don't you see? Unless you try to understand, what we feel for each other will destroy itself. Destroy us.

• Lygia : I've heard the women of Britain and Gaul are most beautiful.

  Vinicius : Lygia, I'm forced to tell you that the women of Britain cover themselves with deer fat.

  Lygia : I'd say that was an understandable desire to be warm.

  Vinicius : The warmth is not transferable, I assure you. Only in its aroma.

• Vinicius : Who's been telling you stories about me?

  Lygia : You have, from your own lips. Ugly stories of conquests and bloodshed.

  Vinicius : Conquest? But what's conquest? It's the only method of uniting and civilizing the world under one power. Have to spill a little blood to do it.

  Lygia : No. There's a gentler and more powerful way of doing that. Without bloodshed and war. Without slaves and captives bound in chains to your triumphal chariots, Commander.

• Lygia : What a way for a conqueror to win a woman. To buy her like an unresisting beast. What false security you must have in your heart and soul. In your *manhood*, Marcus Vinicius, what hidden scorn you must have for yourself.

• Vinicius : Make use of your beauty, live with me. Love as you were made to love.

  Lygia : What difference does it make whether I love, now that you own me?

• Lygia : "Nothing do I see that is not perfection." That night you said it, even though you were most predatory about it, even then, my heart must have told me, "That is the man you will love."