If they are stained, it's with the mud of slavery. If they reek, it's with the stench of injustice.
— Moses (Charlton Heston)
7 seconds sound clip from the The Ten Commandments (1956) movie soundboard.
You can hear this line at 01:16:46.318 in the Blu-ray version of the movie.
Quote context
[...]
- I'm afraid the mud pits have stiffened my knees, royal one.
- Shall I call back the guards?
- Do you think they could bend them?
- Oh, Moses! Moses! You stubborn, splendid, adorable fool.
- I'm not kneeling to a princess.
- No. You are kneeling to a woman who's been worried about you day and night since you disappeared.
- What is there in the mud of these slave pits that could keep you from my arms?
- They may be your people, but do you have to wallow with them? Smell like them?
- If they are stained, it's with the mud of slavery. If they reek, it's with the stench of injustice.
- If you want to help your people, come back to the palace.
- And hide the truth from Sethi? That I am Hebrew and a slave?
- The truth would break his dear old heart and send Bithiah into exile or death.
- Think of us and stop hearing the cries of your people.
- Their god does not hear their cry.
[...]