1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

Armand Assante: Sanchez

Quotes 

• Arojaz : [Looking at Columbus from a distance after the discovery of America is attributed to Amerigo Vespucci]  What a tragedy. What a waste of a life.

  Sanchez : A waste? Well, if your name or mine is ever remembered it will only because of his.

• Queen Isabella I. : [referring to Columbus' proposed expedition]  The costs would be ruinous.

  Sanchez : No more than the costs of two state banquettes.

• Sanchez : [Columbus stops Sanchez after he leaves an audience with the Queen. Sanchez looks at him, disgusted]  You're a dreamer.

  Columbus : [shooting a glance out of a window]  Tell me, what do you see?

  Sanchez : [pausing to look]  I see rooftops, I see palaces, I see towers, I see spires that reach... to the sky! I see civilisation!

  Columbus : All of them built by people like me.

  [Sanchez doesn't respond - shocked] 

  Columbus : No matter how long you live, Sanchez, there is something that will never change between us. I did it. You didn't.

• Columbus : I have waited too long. Fought too hard. And now you expect me to take all the risks while you take the profits? No. I am not a servant.

  Sanchez : Signor Columbus, you're in no position to bargain with me.

  Columbus : I'm not bargaining.

  Sanchez : Then you are too ambitious.

  Columbus : And were you never ambitious? Or is ambition only a virtue among nobles and a fault for the rest of us?

  Sanchez : If you won't accept this proposal we can simply find someone who will.

  Columbus : If you can do that, Excellency, I'll become a monk.

• Sanchez : You seem to have a special talent for making enemies.

  Columbus : Why? Do I have so many already?

  Sanchez : Don't you think to rise so high in so short of time is a dangerous occupation?

• Queen Isabella I. : [During her last audience with Columbus]  I have looked for a reason why I should allow you to go back and although I've tried I couldn't find one. Help me find one.

  Columbus : All my life I have dreamt of reaching the continent. I thought my dreams grandiose. But reality was beyond my expectations. Far beyond. And now I want to explore that land before I die.

  Queen Isabella I. : I allow you to undertake another voyage. But without your brothers. Nor for you to return to Santo Domingo or any other colonies. The New World is a disaster.

  Columbus : And the old one an achievement?

  Queen Isabella I. : [after Columbus leaves]  I know. I shouldn't tolerate his impertinence.

  Sanchez : Then why?

  Queen Isabella I. : Because he is not afraid of me.

• Arojaz : [During the celebration of Columbus' return]  It won't be easy to get rid of your prophet now.

  Sanchez : On the contrary. It seems to me the man is preparing his own cross.

• Sanchez : [about Columbus]  He promised gold, not finding the amounts he promised. He has since commanded the lndians to pay a tax... a monthly tribute of gold. Those unable to, we find, have been punished or massacred. He forced nobility to hard labour, treating them equally with lndians.

• Sanchez : The state has its reasons to be interested in this man's proposition, Your Eminence!

  Arojaz : With all due respect, the judgement is ours.

  Sanchez : Naturally. But what if he is right?

  Arojaz : I've always found that the independent mind is dangerous. If the man had wings, no doubt he would return from the skies to tell us the Heavens are empty.

  Sanchez : I would deplore the loss of such a potential opportunity for Spain, though. Especially over this point of geography.

  Arojaz : It is not the point of geography. It is the point of reality. This man is a mercenary.

  Sanchez : The state often uses mercenaries if it is for the benefit and the stability of Spain. Shouldn't it be as much of your concern as it is mine?

  Arojaz : Am I to understand that you would use your influence to assist this heretic?

  Sanchez : You know, Your Eminence, the fascinating thing about power is that what can be given so effortlessly can so easily be taken away.