Memorable quotes for
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) More at IMDbPro »

[from trailer]
Sir Walter Raleigh: We mortals have many weaknesses; we feel too much, hurt too much or too soon we die, but we do have the chance of love.

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Queen Elizabeth I: Are you here to tell me I must murder a Queen?
Sir Walter Raleigh: I would never presume to tell my Queen what to do. Only you know where your duty lies.
Queen Elizabeth I: Was it my father's duty to murder my mother? She was a Queen, for a time. Oh, I would be loath to die such so bloody a death.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Since when were you so afraid?
Queen Elizabeth I: I'm always afraid.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Kill a Queen and all Queens are mortal. We mortals have many weaknesses: we feel too much, hurt too much, all too soon we die, but we do have the chance of love.
Queen Elizabeth I: Do we? I have given England my life. Must she also have my soul?

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Queen Elizabeth I: Go back to your rathole! Tell Philip I fear neither him, nor his priests, nor his armies. Tell him if he wants to shake his little fist at us, we're ready to give him such a bite he'll wish he'd kept his hands in his pockets!
Spanish Minister: You see a leaf fall, and you think you know which way the wind blows. Well, there is a wind coming, Madame, that will sweep away your pride.
[turns to leave with his ministers]
Queen Elizabeth I: I, too, can command the wind, sir! I have a hurricane in me that will strip Spain bare when you dare to try me!

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[from trailer]
Queen Elizabeth I: Give me hope.
Dr. John Dee: The forces that shape the world are greater than all of us, Majesty. How can I promise that they'll conspire in your favor even though you're the Queen? Yhis much I know, when the storm breaks, some are dumb with terror and some spread their wings like eagles and soar.
Queen Elizabeth I: You are a wise man.
Dr. John Dee: And you, Madame, are a very great lady.

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[from trailer]
Queen Elizabeth I: By God, England will not fall while I am Queen.

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[from trailer]
Queen Elizabeth I: Spain intends to place Mary Stuart on our country's throne, and I am to be assassinated. Does this sound familiar?

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Queen Elizabeth I: How many Catholics are there in England, sir?
Cabinet Minister #1: [snorting] Immense numbers, Majesty.
Cabinet Minister #2: Half the nation cling to the old superstitions.
Queen Elizabeth I: What would you have me do? Hang half the people in England, or just imprison them?
Cabinet Minister #2: We must act, Majesty! Our inaction is perceived as weakness!
Queen Elizabeth I: If my people break the law, they shall be punished. Until that day, they shall be protected.
Cabinet Minister #1: Majesty, we have proven reason to fear every Catholic in the...
Queen Elizabeth I: [cutting in] Fear creates fear. I am not ignorant of the dangers, sir. But I will not punish my people for their beliefs. Only for their deeds. I am assured that the people of England love their Queen. My constant endeavor is to earn that love.

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Sir Francis Walsingham: Forgive me, Your Majesty, I have failed you.
Queen Elizabeth I: How have you failed me? What am I to forgive you for?
Sir Francis Walsingham: Phillip of Spain is a God-fearing man who cannot declare war without a just cause. I intercepted every letter Mary Stuart secretly dispatched, but failed to see Spain knew I was reading them. They waited for her to write the words that in my eyes would confirm her treason.
Sir Francis Walsingham: [ashamed] Forgive me. I am trapped in my own web.
Queen Elizabeth I: And I ordered Mary's execution. I murdered God's anointed Queen. And now God's most dutiful son makes Holy War to punish me.

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William Walsingham: We will all be judged in the end.

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King Philip ll of Spain: Elizabeth is darkness. I am light.

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Queen Elizabeth I: [during a briefing with Walsingham and Bess] We shall have to look out a husband for you soon, Bess.
Elizabeth Throckmorton: Not too soon, my lady.
Sir Francis Walsingham: There are husbands to be had.
Queen Elizabeth I: [to Bess] Don't you want to be married?
Elizabeth Throckmorton: I'll want the marriage if I want the man.

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Sir Christopher Hatton: Be warned by the atrocities in France! God-fearing Christians murdered by Papist cut-throats inflamed by hatred of the truth!
Lord Howard: We know the Catholics take their orders from Spain. The Spanish speak openly of Mary Stuart as Queen of England in waiting.
Queen Elizabeth I: [sharply] Mary Stuart is a Queen cast out by her own ungrateful nation.
Sir Christopher Hatton: With respect, Majesty: a Catholic Queen. Your loyal Protestant supporters don't understand why Mary Stuart lives under our protection at our expense. Very considerable expense.
Queen Elizabeth I: Mary Stuart is my cousin. She is our guest. And she is under our control.
Lord Howard: But while she lives, Majesty, she is a beacon that draws our enemies' eyes and hopes.
Queen Elizabeth I: [speculating] While she lives?
Sir Christopher Hatton: She is the poison at the heart of England. The poison must be cut out.
Queen Elizabeth I: You'd have me make a martyr of her. What is her crime?

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Queen Elizabeth I: We all know that if I fall you all come tumbling down with me.

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Queen Elizabeth I: May we have wisdom not to fear shadows in the night, and courage when the day of danger truly dawns.

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Queen Elizabeth I: [to her army, lined up in front of her at Tilbury] My loving people. We see the sails of the enemy approaching. We hear the Spanish guns over the water. Soon now, we will meet them face-to-face. I am resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all. While we stand together no invader shall pass. Let them come with the armies of Hell; they will not pass! And when this day of battle is ended, we meet again in heaven or on the field of victory.

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Sir Francis Walsingham: Mary Stuart must die!
Queen Elizabeth I: MUST? Mary Stuart must die? Where is written? Who says so? Have I ordered it?
Sir Francis Walsingham: Majesty, this is no time for mercy.
Queen Elizabeth I: [shouting] Don't preach at me, old man!

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Sir Amyas Paulet: And you ma'am, are to be tried-for treason.
Mary Stuart: Me? What is any of this to do with me?

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[after an expedition in the New World, Raleigh has founded a colony]
Sir Walter Raleigh: We have named it Virginia, after our Virgin Queen.
Queen Elizabeth I: "Virginia"? And when I am married, will you rename it to "Conjugia"?

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Annette: Soon, England's true believers will rise up against that bastard usurper, Elizabeth, and slit her throat!
Mary Stuart: [in reprimand] That's enough!
[small pause]
Mary Stuart: [calmly] Slit her throat? Please.

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Sir Walter Raleigh: Why be afraid of tomorrow when today is all we have?

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Sir Walter Raleigh: I have never known a woman like you.

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Queen Elizabeth I: In some other world, in some other time, could you have loved me?
Sir Walter Raleigh: I know only one world and in this world, I have loved you.

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Queen Elizabeth I: There's something you could do for me - something I have not known for a very long time. But it's not to be spoken of afterwards. It must be forgotten. But just for now, a kiss?
[Raleigh kisses Elizabeth]
Queen Elizabeth I: I die.

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Sir Walter Raleigh: [interrupting Elizabeth hitting Bess] Majesty, this is not the Queen I love and serve.

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Sir Walter Raleigh: [Raleigh's horse runs ahead] Forgive me, Majesty, my horse doesn't seem to know his place yet.
Queen Elizabeth I: Have you ever known your place, Mr. Raleigh?

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Sir Walter Raleigh: How am I to win the Queen's favor?
Elizabeth Throckmorton: Why should I tell you that?
Sir Walter Raleigh: I've little enough to offer, but whatever I have to give, ask and it's yours.
Elizabeth Throckmorton: Say what you mean to say as plainly as possible. All men flatter the Queen in hope of advancement. Pay her the compliment of truth.

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Sir Walter Raleigh: I think it must be hard for so great a Queen to know the simple pleasure of being liked for herself.
Queen Elizabeth I: Now you grow dull.

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Queen Elizabeth I: I will not be a toy of the fates! Have I not faced an assassin's bullet and lived?

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Sir Walter Raleigh: [throws his coat in the road] A puddle in the way, Majesty.
Queen Elizabeth I: A puddle.
[keeps walking]
Queen Elizabeth I: Puddle.
[laughs]

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Elizabeth Throckmorton: The puddle man is outside, Majesty.

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Sir Christopher Hatton: [the Archduke Charles of Austria's portrait is presented as a possible suitor] An Austrian alliance would keep France quiet.
Sir Francis Walsingham: And put Philip on a leash.
Queen Elizabeth I: I've become almost enthusiastic. Send for him.

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Queen Elizabeth I: How much longer do you think I can play this game, Francis?
Sir Francis Walsingham: Virginity is an asset that holds its value well.

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Archduke Charles: The beauty of your Majesty is dazzling to my eyes. I am overwhelmed. I am conquered. I die. Only your love, my stattlich Elizabeth, can restore me into life.

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Queen Elizabeth I: [in German] You play the game very well, my young friend. But don't you sometimes feel an overwhelming desire to say what you're really thinking?
Archduke Charles: I daren't even think what I'm really thinking.

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Queen Elizabeth I: I have a secret, my dear. I pretend there's a pane of glass between me and them. They can see me, but they cannot touch me. You should try it.

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Queen Elizabeth I: Do we discover the New World or does the New World discover us?
Sir Walter Raleigh: You speak like a true explorer.

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Sir Walter Raleigh: It is something, after all, to take a blank on the map and build there a shining city.
Elizabeth Throckmorton: Which you will, no doubt, name after yourself.
Sir Walter Raleigh: No doubt.

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Queen Elizabeth I: I cannot accept the fruits of piracy, Mr. Raleigh.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Philip of Spain is no friend of England, Majesty. The more gold I take from him, the safer you will be.
Queen Elizabeth I: Well, well - a political pirate.

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Queen Elizabeth I: I suspect him of being a professional charmer. Am I right?
Elizabeth Throckmorton: He is certainly charming, my lady.
Queen Elizabeth I: Well, there are duller professions. You like him, don't you?
Elizabeth Throckmorton: He's a man that lives in a world far beyond the court. It's refreshing.
Queen Elizabeth I: Well, we shall let him come again.

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Queen Elizabeth I: More lines on my face. Where do they come from?
Elizabeth Throckmorton: Smile lines, my lady.
Queen Elizabeth I: Smile lines? When do I ever smile?

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Mary Stuart: [Mary sits before her accusers in black] You know neither who you are, nor what you do. But I know who I am, and if I die, it shall be as I have lived-as a Queen... Trusting in the mercy of God-my holy father.
[her face is stern]

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Jailer: The Queen orders these measures for your protection.
Mary Stuart: The Queen? I am a queen... They call her The Virgin Queen. Why is that, sir? Can it be that no man will have her?

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Queen Elizabeth I: [speaking about Walter Raleigh] He interests me, talk to him.
Elizabeth Throckmorton: Him your majesty?
Queen Elizabeth I: [smiling] Him.

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Queen Elizabeth I: [smiling] The volta, I require all my ladies to learn it.

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Queen Elizabeth I: [to Raleigh] I like your immensities. Your ocean is an image of Eternity, I think. Such great spaces make us small. Do we discover the New World, Mr. Raleigh, or does it discover us?

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Queen Elizabeth I: I've heard it's customary to have a husband before producing an heir.

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Don Guerau De Spes: Excuse me, Your Majesty. The air has become stale. I am sensitive to the smell of an open sewer.
[He stares at Raleigh and leaves]
Queen Elizabeth I: [to Raleigh] I cannot accept the fruits of piracy, Mr. Raleigh.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Philip of Spain is no friend of England, Majesty. The more gold I take from him, the safer you will be.

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Queen Elizabeth I: You like your ladies to jump at your command.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Do you think that way?
Queen Elizabeth I: To tell you the truth, I'm very very tired of always being in control.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Nonsense!
Queen Elizabeth I: What?
Sir Walter Raleigh: You eat and drink control.
Queen Elizabeth I: Is that so?

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Queen Elizabeth I: Male desire confers no distinction.

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Queen Elizabeth I: My bitches wear my collars!

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