I, Claudius (TV Mini Series)

Poison Is Queen (1976)

Derek Jacobi: Claudius

Quotes 

• [about Augustus being deified] 

  Claudius : I believe it was foretold.

  Livia : Really. Who foretold it?

  Claudius : Jove.

  Livia : Jove, eh?

  Claudius : A hundred days ago he melted the 'C' off one of Augustus' statues.

  Livia : And what does that mean, idiot head?

  Claudius : If you strike the letter 'C' from the word 'Caesar,' the word 'aesar' is left. And in Etruscan 'aesar' means 'God'.

  Livia : If the gods were going to give us a message, why wouldn't they give it to us in Latin?

• [Repeated line] 

  Claudius : Poison is Queen.

• Livia : Have you been in the senate?

  Claudius : On the steps, I'm not allowed in the Senate.

  Livia : No, neither am I. They won't allow me in because I'm a woman and they won't allow you in because you're a fool. And that's strange when you come to think of it, because it's full of nothing but old women and fools!

  [laughs]