Genghis Khan (1965)

Omar Sharif: Genghis Khan, Temujin-Genghis Khan

Photos 

Quotes 

• Geen : [about the Caravan Road]  The Shah of Khwarezm imposed a truce. All have sworn to it. All observe it. No warrior is permitted to carry arms here.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Good, then we can take our pick without fighting!

  Shan : You do not understand, Temujin. A truce was signed!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : I did not sign it, the slaves did not sign it.

  Geen : But...!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : [Interrupts]  Will there be women among the slaves?

  Geen : Yes, lord...

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Good. My men have horses and weapons, but no women. How long do you think they will stay without women?

  [At Shan] 

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : How long will you?

  [Shan smirks] 

• Bortei : Outcast! Slave! Soon you'll be back in a wooden yoke. For, born a slave, you'll die a slave!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Born a slave I never was! Born to rule the Yesugei was always in my stars. And not only one tribe, but people of many tribes were destined to follow me, to fight my battles, conquer nations. All this was in my stars. You - you, woman! Dare provoke my anger.

• Geen : It's about time you too, my Lord, had thoughts of sons.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : The thoughts I've had in my mind are not for a holy man as you! Give me time.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : No woman will be taken against her will.

  Shan : But Lord, that's what women are for! And besides, the best have already been taken!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : A wise man does not judge a horse by its saddle markings!

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Once, you took the chain off my neck. Perhaps I can do the same for you.

  Jamuga : The price?

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : There is no price. Only a dream accomplished. A unified Mongol nation, not just separate warring tribes!

  Jamuga : With the lord Temujin at its head?

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : The stars have written it. Geen, my holy man, tells me this is true.

  [Jamuga bursts out laughing] 

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : The Mongol nation will come, Jamuga. It will! And if the Merkits ride at our side, it will come sooner!

  Jamuga : The Merkits need no other tribes to ride beside them. Behind them, I should say! All others fear us already. Our power, our strength... even my death cannot destroy that!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : You're thinking so small that you can only think about yourself!

  Jamuga : And what do you think of, then, with this wild dream of yours of a Mongol nation? And apart from these stars that you speak of, what else makes you think you have been chosen to rule!

• Bortei : [about Jamuga]  As long as this man lives, none of his tribe will join with you. They can't! You know their laws. And our laws too.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Killing him would be an act of mercy.

  Bortei : We're not talking of mercy, but of common sense!

• Kam Ling : How long do you intend to hold me prisoner?

  Genghis Khan : Not prisoner. As your late emperor said when plotting my murder, you are here as a friend!

  Kam Ling : In that case, I can only ask that my death be a swift one.

  Genghis Khan : We will not speak of dying, friend. Only a fool destroys a wise man. You will sit at my right hand and you will counsel me. And I will listen to your words. And if your words be wise, they will make me wise too!

  Kam Ling : I will accept this honorable appointment, because I am happy to serve a lord whose star grows brighter while the sun of China fades. In addition, I suspect I will find work more agreeable than death!

• Genghis Khan : [at a fireworks display]  And now for our *final* display.

  Emperor of China : Final?

  Genghis Khan : Perhaps you would like to set it off.

  Emperor of China : It would be an honor.

  Genghis Khan : This last one will be very special.

  Emperor of China : You have saved the best for the last. A wise move. A touch of true delicacy.

  Genghis Khan : As you yourself said, "Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

• Genghis Khan : They are all small men. Why are there no men of stature, no men of imagination?

  Kam Ling : It is not easy to match a true conqueror. Perhaps once in many centuries does the world produce a man with the power and the will equal to his vision and destiny. Perhaps Temujin, Genghis Khan, is such a man.

• Genghis Khan : So many tears, but not one tear from you.

  Bortei : There will be many years for weeping. I want you to see me - as you have always.

• Subodai : If we had not run but stopped and fought Jamuga, none of us would have to be here now. None of us!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : [At Subodai]  You have a strong right arm, Subodai, and I like to know it is at my side. But your mouth is young and needs training.

  [He strikes Subodai across the jaw] 

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : With enough training, my brother, you may yet become my strong right arm, for I have need of another!

  [Offers his hand to help Subodai to his feet again] 

• Genghis Khan : Untie any prisoners. If any of the Merkit tribe would leave us, let them go now. I have lived to see it, that the tribes come together as one people.

• Geen : Our world is like three great circles. Here, to the west, Samarkand and Bukhara, the lands of the Persians. Rich nations who trade with the white-skinned Christians from beyond the desert.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : And here, to the East?

  Geen : I have not traveled east of the mountains, but I have talked with merchants from the caravans, and they have told me of the great walls, and beyond them, of the kingdom of China. A land of great cities, where people dress in silks. Even the men.

• Geen : These men, they look like Salkhits!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Perhaps because they are Salkhits.

  Geen : Salkhits?

• Katke : My lord! I thank the four winds you found me. Jamuga was selling me for a slave.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Somehow I don't see you as a slave. In any case, you're free now. You're all free.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : You are all free, my sisters, to continue with this caravan, or to ride with my men back to our camp.

  Shan : You give them a choice? Women?

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Sengal, strike the fetters off these slaves.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Bring food and clothes to the Princess. Prepare another tent for me while I wash.

  Shan : Wash?

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Now shall we see if the spirits of the wind are for us or against us.

• Bortei : If it please you, now that you are here, say what it is you came to say.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : I have said what I came to say.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : No one followed you?

  Geen : We saw nothing but the stars, heard nothing but the rush of the waterfall.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Despite the poetry, I'm glad to see you back.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : My lady, anyone else listening to us now would imagine that you were trying to provoke a fight. But it always needs two to make a quarrel.

  Bortei : Not with me it doesn't!

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : [laughs]  I like a horse with spirit.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : A hand is the first thing one gives to another.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : That was stupid of you. You do not seem like a stupid woman.

  Bortei : I am not a stupid woman. And what did I do that you thought stupid?

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : You gave an order that was bound to be overruled. The master who feeds his dog does not expect him to answer to the whistle of any stranger.

• Bortei : Don't torment me. His name. My son's name?

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Jochi, the founder of our tribe.

  Bortei : Jochi. Jochi. It's a pretty name.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : It is not meant to be pretty. It is a man's name as befits the leader of our tribe. Only, by the time he is a man, it will be a nation!

  Bortei : If any man could ever do it, that man is Temujin of the Yesugai.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Temujin of the Mongols!

• Shan : If we keep heading east, we could end up in a land where I've heard they eat dogs. Or it might have been people.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : According to Geen, it is a land of great wealth. A vast empire built on knowledge and - we must have knowledge.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : It seems you travel without much luck.

  Kam Ling : First our Manchurian guard deserted us, then the wheel of our cart broke. Then our driver stole our horses, and the cattle, tiring of our company, followed after them. One might say that the winds of fortune are blowing somewhat coldly.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Who can travel faster, a horse that needs little to eat or 100 who must forage wide?

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : All the fat bears should be no match for wolves. Remember that now.

• Emperor of China : I have always believed that fighting, horses and women were the sole interests of the men of your nation.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Tribes constantly at war with one another cannot be called a nation.

  Emperor of China : Then we shall do nothing to discourage your quarrels.

• Emperor of China : I find you profoundly entertaining. You make such direct and positive statements. You and your strong, wild men arrive in my city like a rush of wind. A fresh sort of wind.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : We pray to the wind.

  Emperor of China : Charming.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : To the four winds.

  Emperor of China : Better and better.

• Emperor of China : As long as you Mongols fight among yourselves, I and my people should have little to worry us.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : Surely a nation as rich and strong as yours has nothing to fear.

  Emperor of China : Fear? The Chinese empire knows no such word.

• Emperor of China : There is destiny in your coming here, believe me.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : When you speak of destiny, this is something I must believe. At last we agree about something.

• Emperor of China : This is how I relax in moments of disaster and anguish. I find painting has a soothing and calming property.

  Temujin, later Genghis Khan : I see that you paint very well. You are no beginner.

  Emperor of China : He is hinting that we are accustomed to disaster. I fear we've underrated our friend. He has an unexpected gift of subtlety.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : The barbarian of all barbarians. The Mongol who led the Manchurians. And it is fitting that his punishment be far greater than for those whose heads I have brought you. The Lord Jamuga, Your Majesty.

• Temujin, later Genghis Khan : A Mongol never leaves his blade. Not unless he is dead. Just a reminder for you to carry.

• Genghis Khan : I know what you are trying to tell me. That we are only strong when we are undivided.

• Genghis Khan : The Mongols shall rule from the heartland, from the very center of the world.

• Genghis Khan : My word is the law! Now get on with my work.

• Genghis Khan : Turn me towards the wind. I want that the gods should see me in the face.

• Genghis Khan : I asked for this meeting in the hope that Mongol would not shed Mongol blood. Also, that you might still join with me to spread the name of the Mongol nation.

  Jamuga : The Merkits are warriors. Not a group of women to become part of a herd. We say and do as we want. And we take what we need! From anybody!