"And now! At Last! Another film completely different from some of the other films which aren't quite the same as this one is."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
It's just a flesh wound!
— The Black Knight
Context:
Said after King Arthur has chopped off both of the Black Knight's arms during their duel.
Meaning:
The ultimate expression of delusional denial and the refusal to admit defeat. It has become a shorthand for downplaying severe problems.
Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.
— Dennis the Peasant
Context:
Dennis argues with Arthur about his right to rule while they are knee-deep in mud.
Meaning:
A brilliant rationalist critique of the Arthurian myth. It points out the absurdity of monarchical legitimacy based on supernatural folklore.
I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
— The French Guard
Context:
The French soldiers taunting Arthur's knights from the battlements of a castle they are trying to enter.
Meaning:
Iconic for its absurdist creativity. It showcases the film's preference for silly, low-brow insults over traditional cinematic conflict.
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
— Bridge Keeper / King Arthur
Context:
The final question asked at the Bridge of Death, which Arthur survives by asking for clarification on the swallow's origin.
Meaning:
Represents the arbitrary nature of obstacles in the quest. It turns a life-or-death situation into a debate about trivial avian biology.