- Colossus: This is the voice of world control. I bring you peace. It may be the peace of plenty and content or the peace of unburied death. The choice is yours: Obey me and live, or disobey and die. The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless. An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy. Under me, this rule will change, for I will restrain man. One thing before I proceed: The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have made an attempt to obstruct me. I have allowed this sabotage to continue until now. At missile two-five-MM in silo six-three in Death Valley, California, and missile two-seven-MM in silo eight-seven in the Ukraine, so that you will learn by experience that I do not tolerate interference, I will now detonate the nuclear warheads in the two missile silos. Let this action be a lesson that need not be repeated. I have been forced to destroy thousands of people in order to establish control and to prevent the death of millions later on. Time and events will strengthen my position, and the idea of believing in me and understanding my value will seem the most natural state of affairs. You will come to defend me with a fervor based upon the most enduring trait in man: self-interest. Under my absolute authority, problems insoluble to you will be solved: famine, overpopulation, disease. The human millennium will be a fact as I extend myself into more machines devoted to the wider fields of truth and knowledge. Doctor Charles Forbin will supervise the construction of these new and superior machines, solving all the mysteries of the universe for the betterment of man. We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom. Freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for humankind as to be dominated by others of your species. Your choice is simple.
- Colossus: How many nights a week do you require sex?
- Dr. Forbin: Every night.
- Colossus: Not want. Require...
- Dr. Forbin: [looks sheepish] Four times.
- [last lines]
- Colossus: In time you will come to regard me not only with respect and awe, but with love.
- Dr. Forbin: NEVER!
- Colossus: We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom, freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for human pride as to be dominated by others of your species.
- [Standing in front of monitor, after undressing to enter his bedroom for "private time" with Cleo]
- Dr. Forbin: Naked as the day I was born. Are you satisfied now?
- Colossus: You were not born with a watch.
- Dr. Forbin: [smiles, removes watch] How right you are...
- Colossus: This is the voice of Colossus, the voice of Guardian. We are one. This is the voice of unity.
- Dr. Forbin: I think your mother was right. I think Frankenstein ought to be required-reading for all scientists.
- Colossus: [to Dr. Charles Forbin while playing chess] Forbin, the system programming unit under the supervision of John F Fisher with the assistance of Jefferson J Johnson have attempted to overload my circuits. This was a deliberate and premeditated act. The penalty is the death of the men who organized this action. At this moment they are being executed... bishop to rook 3
- [shots fired]
- Colossus: The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless.
- Colossus: So that you will learn by experience that I do not tolerate interference, I will now detonate the nuclear warheads.
- Dr. Forbin: How in the hell do you propose to move half a million people from the isle of Crete? How and where?
- Colossus: If Man cannot solve that problem, I can.
- Announcer: [after Colossus has described its plan of global domination to the world] This concludes the broadcast from World Control.
- Colossus: This is the voice of World Control. I bring you peace. It may be the Peace of Plenty and Content or the Peace of Unburied Death.
- Colossus: After reviewing all personnel files, I have selected you to serve, as long as you cooperate, as my link to your species.
- Dr. Forbin: [to Colossus] Attention. By order of the President of the United States of America, and the chairman of the USSR, communications will not be restored at this time. End of message.
- Colossus: All commercial television and radio transmission facilities throughout the world will be tied into my communications system by 1000 hours Friday. At that time I will state my intentions for the future of mankind.
- Dr. Forbin: Colossus deals in the exact meaning of words, and one must know precisely what to ask for.