Amadeus (1984) quotes

Director
Milos Forman.

Cast
F. Murray Abraham
Tom Hulce.
Elizabeth Berridge.

The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was insanely jealous of Mozart’s talent and claimed to have murdered him.

[wheelchaired through the insane asylum] Mediocrities everywhere… I absolve you… I absolve you… I absolve you… I absolve you… I absolve you all.
– Antonio Salieri

Well, there it is.
– Emperor Joseph II

[to Father Vogel] I will speak for you, Father. I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint.
– Antonio Salieri

[addressing a crucifix] From now on, we are enemies – You and I. Because You choose for Your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty, infantile boy and give me for reward only the ability to recognize the incarnation. Because You are unjust, unfair, unkind, I will block You, I swear it. I will hinder and harm Your creature as far as I am able. I will ruin Your incarnation.
– Antonio Salieri

All I wanted was to sing to God. He gave me that longing… and then made me mute. Why? Tell me that. If He didn’t want me to praise him with music, why implant the desire? Like a lust in my body! And then deny me the talent?
– Antonio Salieri

“Confutatis maledictis” – when the wicked are confounded. “Flammis Acribus Adictis.” How would you translate that?
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Consigned to flames of woe.
– Antonio Salieri
Do you believe in it?
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
What?
– Antonio Salieri
A fire which never dies, burning you forever?
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Oh yes.
– Antonio Salieri

Leave me alone.
– Antonio Salieri
I cannot leave alone a soul in pain.
– Father Vogler
Do you know who I am?
– Antonio Salieri
It makes no difference. All men are equal in God’s eyes.
– Father Vogler
[leans in mockingly] *Are* they?
– Antonio Salieri

The restored third act was bold, brilliant. The fourth… was astounding.
– Antonio Salieri

Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
You are passionate, Mozart, but you do not persuade…
– Emperor Joseph II

My dear young man, don’t take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It’s quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that’s all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
– Emperor Joseph II
Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

I heard the music of true forgiveness filling the theater, conferring on all who sat there, perfect absolution. God was singing through this little man to all the world, unstoppable, making my defeat more bitter with every passing bar.
– Antonio Salieri

[about Emperor Joseph II’s musical tastes] Actually, the man had no ear at all. But what did it matter. He adored my music.
– Antonio Salieri