I’m thinking of watching this movie today on a spare monitor while I work… but I was reading about Freedom this morning and this movie is one of the most vivid pictures of the battle for “freedom” that I can think of.

William Wallace: It’s all for nothing if you don’t have freedom.

William Wallace: There’s a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.

William Wallace: And if this is your army, why does it go?
Veteran: We didn’t come here to fight for them!
Young Soldier: Home! The English are too many!
William Wallace: Sons of Scotland! I am William Wallace.
Young Soldier: William Wallace is seven feet tall!
William Wallace: Yes, I’ve heard. Kills men by the hundreds. And if HE were here, he’d consume the English with fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse.
[Scottish army laughs]
William Wallace: I *am* William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You’ve come to fight as free men… and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
Veteran: Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live.
William Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live… at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin’ to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take… OUR FREEDOM!
[Scottish army cheers]
William Wallace: Alba gu bra!
[“Scotland forever!”]
Army: ALBA GU BRA! ALBA GU BRA! ALBA GU BRA!

William Wallace: Go back to England and tell them there that Scotland’s daughters and her sons are yours no more. Tell them Scotland is free.

[last lines]
William Wallace: [voiceover] In the Year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland – starving and outnumbered – charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets; they fought like Scotsmen, and won their freedom.

Malcolm Wallace: Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it.

Robert the Bruce: I’m not a coward. I want what you want, but we need the nobles.
William Wallace: We need them?
Robert the Bruce: Aye.
William Wallace: Nobles.
[laughs a little]
William Wallace: Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don’t follow titles, they follow courage. Now our people know you. Noble, and common, they respect you. And if you would just lead them to freedom, they’d follow you. And so would I

Campbell: I’m dying. Let me be.
Hamish: No. You’re going to live.
Campbell: I’ve lived long enough to live free. Proud to see you become the man you are. I’m a happy man.

Royal Magistrate: The prisoner wishes to say a word.
William Wallace: [shouts loud and long] Freedom!

Hamish: Your dream isn’t about freedom. It’s about Murron! You’re doing this to be a hero, ’cause ya think she sees ye!
William Wallace: I don’t think she sees me. I *know* she does. And your father sees you, too.
[Hamish punches him, knocks him down, and stalks off]
Stephen: [to the sky as he goes to help William up] Jesus.

Thanks to IMDB.COM for the quotes…