Will Lyman: William Tell

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Roland : [speaking to the men of the village]  The only way to oppose tyrants like Gessler and the emperor is by force. In every village there are men armed and ready to rid us of our oppressors. Now, they're waiting for the right time and I'm here to tell you that time has come.

  William Tell : [to Matthew Tell]  And I'm here to tell you - you're late for lunch.

• Mathew Tell : Father, you would have fought him! You were a soldier.

  William Tell : No, Matthew, I was a mercenary.

• Brother Gregory : As the holy book says, every man saying "Peace, peace when there is no peace!"

  William Tell : The Holy Book also says, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's", "Beat our swords into plowshares" and "Turn the other cheek."

  Brother Gregory : You mark my words - God will send us a leader to spark the flames of rebellion!

  William Tell : To burn what? Innocent children? Now you're right - you don't know anything about war. That's why you're so eager to push us into it. But I've seen whole villages in flames. Fifteen years later, I can still smell the stink of burning flesh.

• William Tell : You give me a choice between war and Gessler and I'll take Gessler every time.

• Gov. Hermann Gessler : You may choose your arrow.

  [Tell takes a pair of crossbow bolts from a guard] 

  Prince Frederick : He's taken two!

  Gov. Hermann Gessler : If you're the marksman they say you are, you won't need another shot. Are you afraid you'll miss?

  William Tell : If the first one misses, the second one's for you.