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

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.

Prefect: What do you keep behind these locks and bolts?
Marcus: My fortune, excellency. It's a safe place.
Burbix: Would the prefect like to inspect the barbarians - the Britons who are to fight tomorrow?
Marcus: Yes.
[to the prefect]
Marcus: Captives from Agricola's campaign.
Prefect: I wonder why we Romans trouble ourselves with that wretched island? After it's conquered, what good is it?
Marcus: Don't you believe we can ever civilize the Britons?
Prefect: Those people? They'll always be barbarians. What will they ever do?

Gaius Tanno: You remind me of an acrobat in the arena walking on a rope stretched high in the air.
Marcus: Walking on a rope?
Gaius Tanno: Yes, a rope no wider than my thumb.
Marcus: [laughing] I'm not walking on a rope.
Gaius Tanno: Oh, yes, you are. Every poor man is. You think you're balanced nicely, but only money can make you safe. Some little unexpected thing, and you're down... smashed!

Marcus: He still believes in things.
Pontius Pilate: And you and I are wiser? Perhaps... What is truth?

Marcus: Money is all that matters. Well, I can get money! It's easy to get money! All you have to do... is kill.

Cleon, the Slave Dealer: [pandering] If you're a rich man, a few coppers wouldn't interest you.
[giving Marcus a coin]
Cleon, the Slave Dealer: This is for your work...
[he gives him a second copper]
Cleon, the Slave Dealer: ... and this is for saving my life.
Marcus: [laughing with contempt] Just about what the job is worth!

Cleon, the Slave Dealer: I don't think you should look down on me, my friend. Aren't we in the same business? We both furnish amusement for the people.
Marcus: I risk my life with the man I'm fighting. You buy and sell wretches to be slaughtered as a spectacle. I'm not proud of myself, but, by Jupiter, compared to you I'm a holy man.
Cleon, the Slave Dealer: You will never be an old one. It isn't bravery that survives; it's brains.
Marcus: Yes, it is well known that the rat lives longer than the lion, but who wants to be a rat? I wouldn't do your dirty work - not to save my life!