Star Trek (TV Series)

Bread and Circuses (1968)

Logan Ramsey: Claudius

Quotes 

• Claudius Marcus : Guards. Take him to the arena. Oh, we've pre-empted fifteen minutes on the early show for you. In full colour. We guarantee you a splendid audience. Er, you may not understand, because you're centuries beyond anything as crude as television.

  Capt. Kirk : I've heard it was... similar.

• Claudius Marcus : Would you leave us, Merik? The thoughts of one man to another cannot possibly interest you.

• Claudius Marcus : So, this is a Vulcan. Interesting. From what I have heard I wish I had fifty of you for the arena.

  Merik : This other is your ship's surgeon?

  Capt. Kirk : McCoy.

  Merik : It's a pity we can't let him loose in our hospitals. Our level of medicine would improve immeasurably, I'm sure.

• Spock : I find the checks and balances of this civilization quite illuminating.

  Dr. McCoy : Next he'll be telling us he prefers it over Earth history.

  Spock : They do seem to have escaped the carnage of your first three world wars, Doctor.

  Dr. McCoy : They have slavery, gladiatorial games, despotism.

  Spock : Situations quite familiar to the six million who died in your first world war, the eleven million who died in your second, the thirty-seven million who died in your third. Shall I go on?

  Claudius Marcus : Interesting...

• Claudius Marcus : Admit it, you find these games frightening, revolting.

  Capt. Kirk : Proconsul, in some parts of the galaxy, I have seen forms of entertainment that makes this look like a folk dance.

• Merik : The Romans have always been the strongest; and they've had practice for over two thousand years in enslaving men, using them, killing them.

  Claudius Marcus : Quite true, Captain Kirk. The games have always strengthened us. Death becomes a familiar pattern. We don't fear it as you do.

• Claudius Marcus : And you, Captain, er, which world do you prefer?

  Capt. Kirk : My world, Proconsul, is my vessel, my oath, my crew.

• Claudius Marcus : Now, Captain, what are you going to order your men to do?

  Capt. Kirk : If I brought down a hundred of them armed with phasers...

  Claudius Marcus : ...you could probably defeat the combined armies of our entire empire - and violate your oath regarding non-interference with other societies. I believe you all swear you'll die, before you'd violate that directive. Am I right?

  Spock : Quite correct.

  Dr. McCoy : Must you always be so blasted honest?

• Claudius Marcus : We believe men should fight their own battles. Only the weak will die.

• Claudius Marcus : You're a Roman, Kirk, or you should have been.