Original artwork, not a still
Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we are the cure.
— The Matrix ‧ 1999
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speech is the film's villain stating the case against humanity in plain, cold terms, and it sticks because it is half-plausible. The comparison with a virus gives Smith his contempt and his logic. Fans quote it, usually with irony, as an indictment of our species.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The MatrixShow the scene
The Matrix (1999). Morpheus has been captured, and Agent Smith interrogates him to get the access codes to Zion's mainframe. Smith says he has had a revelation while classifying humans: they are not really mammals, because every mammal settles into an equilibrium with its environment and humans instead multiply until every resource is consumed. Only a virus follows the same pattern, he says, and then he delivers this verdict. Hugo Weaving, who plays Smith, developed a neutral accent for the character.
Sources (2)
- The Matrix, WikipediaPlot; CastReference checked
- The Matrix (1999) script transcript, Springfield! Springfield!Smith's interrogation speechReference checked
Context reviewed
