- Martin Luther: Tell me what to do, Father.
- Father Staupitz: Eat more food, get more sleep, and learn more about God.
- Chancellor: Martin Luther, I ask you for the last time: Do you retract your writings and the errors they contain?
- Martin Luther: Since your imperial majesty asks for a simple answer, I will give a simple answer. Unless I am convinced of my error by the evidence of the Scriptures or by plain reason, I cannot and I will not retract anything. I do not trust either popes or councils. It's not safe to act against one's conscience, and my conscience is captive to the word of God. Here I stand, so help me God.
- Martin Luther: The interpretation of the Scripture is a task to be undertaken by the whole body of the church, by all believing Christians.
- Johann Eck: By all believing Christians? And do all believing Christians agree with one another? Ha! Never in a thousand years. That is why the church in her wisdom ordains that ultimate authority rests with the pope.
- Martin Luther: [narrating] As I studied, this was the question to which I kept returning: what is true repentance? How can I be sorry for sin when I never stop sinning? As I chased words through the Bible, I began to make discoveries. This was how, slowly at first, light began to break into my prison: through a window of words.
- Georg Spalatin: We think that Rome would consider a compromise, if you would. So much national feeling mixed up in this.
- Martin Luther: What sort of compromise?
- Georg Spalatin: The key seems to be this question of authority. We thought perhaps you could make a statement affirming your belief in duly appointed authority. You do believe in authority, don't you?
- Martin Luther: Duly appointed authority, yes. I also happen to believe that that excludes the entire hierarchy of the Roman Church.
- Georg Spalatin: No need to go into detail...
- Martin Luther: Father, can you look with open eyes at the corrupted Church of Rome and call it Christendom?
- Father Staupitz: Yes, that's not so difficult. I can look with open eyes at the corrupted human race, you see, and call it mankind. It's all we've got.