| Movie |
Quo Vadis |
| Year |
1951 |
 |
Petronius:
It is not enough to live well. One must die well.
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[On being told the Christians are being blamed for the burning of Rome]
Vinicius:
The people won't believe such a lie!
Petronius:
People will believe any lie, if it is fantastic enough.
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Petronius:
[after seeing Rome consumed by flames] Now indeed, Nero has his place in history.
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Petronius:
[to Nero] You will be worthy of the spectacle - as the spectacle is worthy of you.
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Vinicius:
[as the Christians file into the arena, singing] These people know how to die, Nero. In death you will squeal like a hog!
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[Nero is exasperated with the mobs]
Emperor Nero:
Do I live for the people or do the people live for me?
Petronius:
You are the sun in their sky! Does the sun have privacy?
Emperor Nero:
The sun has the night! These people expect me to shine both day and night!
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Emperor Nero:
[as the Christians enter the arena to die] They're singing!
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Vinicius:
[when asked how his army defeated the Gauls and the Britons] We fought them with our bowels! Try it sometime!
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Petronius:
[to Eunice] You ask why I do this. Because I love Nero, perhaps? He fills me with loathing!
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Vinicius:
[speaking of Nero] Is it true that the new Empress Poppea was once a harlot?
Petronius:
[Sardonically humorous] My dear Marcus, what a proletarian observation! You must know that a woman's past is of no consequence when she mates with a god.
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Petronius:
[Nero begins to sing again, and his voice is horrible] Body of Bacchus, I've been listening to *that* all morning!
Vinicius:
[amused] He seems in rare voice!
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Emperor Nero:
[During the burning of Rome] What does the mob want?
Petronius:
Justice.
Emperor Nero:
A mob doesn't want justice - they want revenge!
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Emperor Nero:
[On learning that Petronius is dead] I shall never forgive him for this!
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