Chariots of Fire Quotations

Chariots of Fire is a 1981 film directed by Hugh Hudson, and the winner of four Academy Awards including best picture.

Eric Liddell

Then where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within.
I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
Run in His glory, and let the world stand back in wonder.

Harold M. Abrahams

You, Aubrey are my most complete man. You're brave, compassionate, kind: a content man. That is your secret, contentment; I am 24 and I've never known it. I'm forever in pursuit and I don't even know what I am chasing.
And now in one hour's time, I will be out there again. I will raise my eyes and look down that corridor; 4 feet wide, with 10 lonely seconds to justify my existence. But will I?
That was the miscalculation of my life.
He is a STRONG man but is unsure about his religion.

Dialogue

Harold M. Abrahams: If I can't win, I won't run!

Sybil Gordon: If you won't run, you can't win.

Sam Mussabini: Eric Liddell? He's no real problem...

Harold M. Abrahams: You could have fooled me.

[Eric has already beaten Harold once]

Sam Mussabini: Yeah, he's fast! But he won't go any faster; not in the dash, anyway. He's a gut runner, digs deep! But a short sprint is run on nerves. It's tailor-made for neurotics.

Sam Mussabini: Do you want to know why you lost today?

[Harold nods]

Sam Mussabini: You're over striding.

[Sets coins in a row]

Sam Mussabini: Now these coins represent the steps in your sprint.

[Pushes coin together]

Sam Mussabini: Have you got another two coins, Mr. Abrahams? Well, maybe we can find 'em.

[Harold looks up]

Sam Mussabini: Remember over striding. Death for the sprinter.

[shakes his head]

Sam Mussabini: Slap in the face, each step you take. Knocks you back.

[Slaps Harold across the cheek. Harold winces]

Sam Mussabini: Like that!

[Slaps Harold again]

Sam Mussabini: And that!

[Sam laughs and grabs Harold by the arm]

[The athletes are playing cricket in the ballroom of their hotel. Henry Stallard is the umpire; Aubrey Montague bowls a delivery to Eric Liddell, batting]

Henry Stallard: No ball!

Harold M. Abrahams: [desperate to get into bat] Come on, Aubrey, the old leg-break!

[Aubrey bowls another delivery, which deceivingly appears to have gotten Eric out]

Harold M. Abrahams: How zat!

Henry Stallard: Not out!

Harold M. Abrahams: What do you mean, not out? You could have heard it from bloddy Bournemouth! Come on, Liddell, my innings.

Eric Liddell: I didn't touch it, I swear; it must've been the crack of my wrist!

Harold M. Abrahams: He's out I tell you, you're all deaf - deaf and bloody blind! Aubrey I ask you, for God's sake!

[No responce from Aubrey, dramatic pause]

Harold M. Abrahams: [punching the air] It's not FAIR!

[The athletes break into laughter, Abrahams eventually joining them]

Harold M. Abrahams: And now in one hour's time, I will be out there again. I will raise my eyes and look down tha corridor; 4 feet wide, with 10 lonely seconds to justifiy my whole existence. But will I?

Harold M. Abrahams: Aubrey, I've known the fear of losing but now I am almost too frightened to win.

Lord Andrew Lindsay: [about the Prince of Wales] Protocol, Monty, protocol. He is here to show us what must be done, and, more essentially, what may not be.

Lord Birkenhead: Ah, Liddell! I was afraid you weren't here.

Eric Liddell: I'm afraid I am, sir.

Taglines

This is the story of two men who run... not to run... but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals... Except their honour.
Two men chasing dreams of glory!

Quoternity