Messala: Judah, either you help me or you oppose me, you have no other choice. You're either for me or against me!Judah Ben-Hur: If that is the choice, then I am against you.
Messala: Look to the West, Judah! Don't be a fool, look to Rome!Judah Ben-Hur: I would rather be a fool than a traitor... or a killer!Messala: I am a soldier!Judah Ben-Hur: Yes! Who kills! For Rome! Rome is evil!Messala: I warn you...Judah Ben-Hur: No! I warn you! Rome is an affront to God! Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth! But not forever. I tell you the day Rome falls there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before!
By condemning without hesitation an old friend, I shall be feared.
Now listen to me, all of you. You are all condemned men. We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live.
