Quotes

[from theatrical trailer]

Jonathan Kent: You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be, Clark. Whoever that man is, he's going to change the world.

[from theatrical trailer]

Mom: My son was in the bus! He saw what Clark did!

[from theatrical trailer]

Jonathan Kent: You have to keep this side of yourself a secret.

Clark Kent at 13: What was I supposed to do? Let them die?

[brief pause]

Jonathan Kent: Maybe...

[from theatrical trailer]

Jonathan Kent: You're not just anyone. One day, you're going to have to make a choice. You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, it's going to change the world.

Clark Kent: My father believed that if the world found out who I really was, they'd reject me... out of fear. He was convinced that the world wasn't ready. What do you think?

[from trailer]

Jonathan Kent: You're the answer, son. You're the answer to "are we alone in the universe".

Clark Kent at 13: Can't I just... keep pretending I'm your son?

Jonathan Kent: You ARE my son. And I have to believe that you were sent here for a reason. And even if it takes the rest of your life, you owe it to yourself to find out what that reason is.

[from TV spot]

Jor-El: You can save them... You can save all of them.

Perry White: Imagine how our world would react if they came face to face with this...

[from trailer]

Superman: I won't betray them.

General Zod: You already have.

Jor-El: You've grown stronger here than I ever could've imagined. The only way to know how strong, is to keep testing your limits.

General Zod: I was bred to be a warrior, Kal. Trained my entire life to master my senses. Where did you train? ON A FARM?

Clark Kent: Why didn't you come with me?

Jor-El: We couldn't, Kal. As much as we wanted to, we couldn't. Your mother and I were as much a product of the failures of our world as Zod was.

Lois Lane: You let them handcuff you?

Superman: Wouldn't be much of surrender if i resisted.

Lois Lane: What this "S" stand for?

Superman: It's not an "S",on my world it means "Hope".

Lois Lane: Well,here it's an "S".How about... Sup...

Colonel Nathan Hardy: This man is not our enemy.

Clark Kent: Thank you, Colonel.

General Zod: If you love these people so much, you can mourn for them!

Clark Kent: Don't do this! Stop! Don't!

General Zod: Never!

Clark Kent: NOOOO!

Lara Lor-Van: I can't do it... I thought I could, but...

Jor-El: Lara, Krypton is doomed. This is the only chance of safety he has.

General Zod: Your father equipped himself with great honor Kal.

Superman: You killed my father?

General Zod: I did. And not a day goes by that it does not haunt me. But if I had to do it again I would. I have a duty to my people, and I will not allow anyone to prevent me from carrying it out!

Jor-El: To see you standing there having grown into an adult... if only Lara could have witnessed this.

Clark Kent: Who are you?

Jor-El: I am your father, Kal, or at least a shadow of him. His consciousness. My name is Jor-El

Clark Kent: Kal? That's my name?

Jor-El: Kal-El, it is.

Clark Kent: I have so many questions. Where do I come from? Why did you send me here?

Jor-El: You came from Krypton, a world with a much harsher environment than Earth's. Long ago, in an era of expansion, our race spread out through the stars, seeking new worlds to settle upon. This scout ship was one of thousands launched into the void. We built outposts on other planets, using great machines to reshape environments to our needs. For 100 thousand years our civilization flourished, accomplishing wonders.

Clark Kent: What happened?

Jor-El: Artificial population control was established. The outposts and space exploration were abandoned. We exhausted our natural resources. As a result, our planet's core became unstable. Eventually, our military leader, General Zod, attempted a coup, but by then it was too late. Your mother and I foresaw the coming calamity and we took certain steps to ensure your survival. This is a genesis chamber. All Kryptonians were conceived in chambers such as this. Every child was designed to perform a predetermined role in our society as a worker, a warrior, a leader, and so on. Your mother and I believed Krypton lost something precious, the element of choice, of chance. What if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what society had intended? What if a child aspired to something greater? You were the embodiment of that belief Kal. Krypton's first natural birth in centuries. That's why we risked so much to save you.

Clark Kent: Why didn't you come with me?

Jor-El: We couldn't, Kal. No matter how much we wanted to. No matter how we loved you. Your mother, Lara, and I were a product of the failures of our world as much as Zod was. It's hard to explain.

Clark Kent: So I'm alone?

Jor-El: No, you are as much a child of Earth now as you are of Krypton. You can embody the best of both worlds. The dream your mother and I dedicated our lives to preserve.

[He reveals to him the Superman suit]

Jor-El: The people of Earth are different from us, it's true, but ultimately I believe that is a good thing. They won't necessarily make the same mistakes we did, but if you guide them, Kal, if you give them hope, that's what this symbol means. The symbol of the House of El means hope. Embodied within that hope is the fundamental belief the potential of every person to be a force for good. That's what you can bring them.

General Zod: This council has been disbanded!

Ro-Zar: On whose authority?

[Zod shoots and kills Ro-Zar]

General Zod: Mine! The rest of you will be tried and punished accordingly.

Jor-El: What are you doing, Zod? This is madness!

General Zod: What I should have done years ago! These lawmakers with their endless debates have led Krypton to ruin!

Jor-El: And if your forces prevail? You'll be the leader of nothing!

General Zod: Then join me. Help me save our race. We'll start anew. We'll sever the degenerative bloodlines that led us to this state.

Jor-El: And who will decide which bloodlines survive, Zod?... You?

[pause]

General Zod: Don't do this, El. The last thing I want is for us to be enemies.

Jor-El: You have abandoned the principles that bound us together. You've taken up the sword against your own people. I will honor the man you once were, Zod, not this monster you have become.

General Zod: Lara, listen to me! The Codex is Krypton's future! Abort the launch!

[Lara continues the launch sequence and sends her son into space]