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I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost…
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.
To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish…
Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!
In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!
Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!
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CURIOSITY: Chaplin and Hitler were born within a week of one another.
Charlie Chaplin date of birth: 16/04/1889
Adolf Hitler date of birth: 20/04/1889
The Great Dictator is an American anti-war, political satire, and black comedy film written, directed, produced, scored, and starring British comedian Charlie Chaplin. It was his first film with dialogue.
The film was released in September 1940, but the first notes we have about the famous speech are from November 1939. Chaplin spent many months drafting and rewriting the speech for the end of the film.
In the following note, we can see some keywords he used to help him write the final speech:
"Reason. Happiness. Kindness. Gentleness. Humanity. Beauty. Imagination. Goodness. Progress. Tolerance. Freedom. Adventure. Love. Science. Democracy."
You can read more about Chaplin's notes at Charlie Chaplin Archive - The Final Speech.
Hope 🠖 Chaplin expresses a fervent desire for a better world, where peace and freedom prevail. He believes in humanity's ability to change for the better.
Indignation 🠖 There is clear indignation against tyranny and oppression. Chaplin strongly criticizes dictators and authoritarian regimes that cause suffering and misery.
Compassion 🠖 The speech is full of empathy for human suffering. Chaplin addresses soldiers and common people directly, acknowledging their struggles and their suffering.
Determination 🠖 The speech has a resolute tone, encouraging action against injustice and oppression. He calls for people to unite and fight for a fairer world.
Sadness 🠖 There is also a sense of sadness about the state of the world, the war, and the inhumanity he observes around him.
Love 🠖 Chaplin speaks of love and kindness as fundamental forces that can transform the world. He appeals to people's humanity, encouraging them to be more loving and supportive.
Courage 🠖 The speech is a call to bravery, encouraging people not to fear tyrants and to fight for their rights and freedoms.
These combined emotions make the speech a powerful declaration against war, oppression, and inhumanity, and a fervent appeal for a world of peace, freedom, and solidarity.
I will leave you with this version of The Great Dictator Speech which is remarkable for the addition of the Inception theme song Time composed by Hans Zimmer.
This is a really good demonstration of the impact that music can have in a scene: