Original artwork, not a still
They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!
— Braveheart ‧ 1995
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speech turns a hopeless fight into a trade between a long life and one defiant moment, and the last four words give it its force: freedom is the one thing a conqueror cannot confiscate. It became the template for the rousing pre-battle speech, and the bookend of Wallace's final cry makes the film's whole argument in a single word.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for BraveheartShow the scene
In Braveheart (1995), William Wallace has gathered a Scottish army outside Stirling and finds it ready to walk away. A veteran says they will run and live. Wallace answers that they will die in their beds one day, and asks whether they would trade all those days for one chance to come back and tell their enemies that they may take our lives but never our freedom. The army cheers, and Wallace roars the Gaelic cry for Scotland forever. The English then arrive with the king's terms. Wallace's final word, at his execution, is "Freedom!".
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: BraveheartWilliam speech before StirlingReference checked
- Wikipedia: BraveheartPlotReference checked
Context reviewed
