13 quotes
This is a story of a period between two World Wars — an interim in which insanity cut loose. Liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat.
The Great Dictator (1940)
You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
The Great Dictator (1940)
The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood, for the unity of us all.
The Great Dictator (1940)
In this world, there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
The Great Dictator (1940)
I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone.
The Great Dictator (1940)
Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little.
The Great Dictator (1940)
Hannah: Life could be wonderful if people would leave you alone.
The Great Dictator (1940)
Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes — men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel; who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder!
The Great Dictator (1940)
Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the 17th Chapter of St. Luke, it is written: "the Kingdom of God is within man" — not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men! In you!
The Great Dictator (1940)
Don't give yourselves to brutes — men who despise you — enslave you — who regiment your lives — tell you what to do — what to think or what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men — machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!
The Great Dictator (1940)
Do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed — the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
The Great Dictator (1940)
Hannah, can you hear me? Wherever you are, look up, Hannah — the clouds are lifting! The sun is breaking through! We are coming out of the darkness, into the light.
The Great Dictator (1940)
To those who can hear me, I say — do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed — the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
The Great Dictator (1940)