John Gielgud Quotes

Vision of a Professional Army

Captain Nolan One day, there will be an army where troopers need not be forced to fight, by floggings or hard reins. An army-- a Christian army-- that fights because it is paid well to fight, and fights well because its women and children are cared for. An army that is efficient and of a professional feather. I must fight for such and army. That army will bring the first of the modern wars, and the last of the gallop.

[voiceover]

General Airey It does look like war.

Lord Raglan Does it? I do think the French have been asking for it, ever since they had my arm.

Airey But it won't be the French.

Raglan Won't it be the French?

Airey I've got a map, somewhere, of who it ought to be.

Airey Well, it might be the French. It might always be the French.

Raglan I knew it would be.

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The Charge of the Light Brigade

Conflict Over Command in the Light Brigade

Lord Cardigan I cam to be offered a command, not serve under that fool Lucan! I knew, the moment I saw his biscuit face sopping up wet around the ] he'd be here, starting his wheedling!

[[w:Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards]

Lord Raglan I am sure that after a little while, Lord Cardigan, you can be persuaded that such an arrangement can be made to work. After all, you will have the Light Brigade. Dash and fire, eh?

General Airey Yes, Cardigan. You'll have the Light Brigade. Dash and fire, it is!

Cardigan Lucan could not make himself fit to command a tent. Command an escort. Not fit to command a troop of knackered tailors on stubbed donkeys!

[slightly mollified]

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Becket

The Game of Courtesy Among Nations

King Louis VII of France My dear man, crowned heads are free to play a little game of courtesy, but nations owe one another none.

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Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Selling Blood for Cash in Unexpected Places

Arthur Yesterday, I sold some blood at a hospital.

Hobson Hospital? I should've thought a local distillery would have paid you much more.

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Caligula

Transformation Aspirations in Roman Leadership

Tiberius Help me, Nerva. Help me transform this young barbarian into a Roman Caesar.

Nerva There have been three Roman Caesars; ], ] and yourself. Which do you want him to be?

[[Julius Caesar|Julius; [Augustus]

Tiberius The best.

Nerva That would be your father Augustus.

Tiberius You see, Caligula? I'm insulted to my face.

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Caligula

Struggles with Fate and Friendship

Tiberius Cretins... why did you permit him to do it? Bind his wrists... BIND HIS WRISTS! You must not go, you must not leave me, you are my friend, my only friend.

[seeing Nerva has cut his wrists; to Nerva]

Nerva I've lived too long, Tiberius, I hate my life.

Tiberius Leave us! Both of you!

[to the slaves]

Nerva For a man to choose the hour of his own death is the closest he will ever come to tricking fate, and fate decrees that when you die, ] will kill me.

[[w:Naevius Sutorius Macro|Macro]

Tiberius I'll arrest him and have him executed.

Nerva You can't. He controls you. Anyway, even with Macro dead, how could I go on living with this reptile?

[Looks at Caligula]

Tiberius You will respect my friend always, won't you, reptile?

[To Caligula]

Caligula I've always respected him, lord.

Tiberius You hear?

[To Nerva]

Nerva Tiberius, you were wise once.

Tiberius Ah, don't taunt me. I am old.

Nerva I've watched you grow into a monster! One by one, I've seen you murder your whole family, your friends, the noblest men in Rome.

Caligula That is treason!

Nerva No, it's the truth.

Tiberius I am and I always have been surrounded by enemies. In my own family, in the senate... You are cruel!

Nerva No, honest. Old men can sometimes see the future. So, from evils past, and the evils yet to come, I now choose to escape.

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Becket

Complimenting a Guest's Presence

King Louis VII of France You're the ideal guest.

[to Becket]

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Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Advice on a Difficult Situation

Arthur What can I do, Hobson? I mean what would you do if you were me?

Hobson The word "bathe" comes to mind.

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Arthur

The Perfect Crime Discussion

Arthur Hobson, did you see that?

Hobson Yes.

Arthur She stole that tie! It's the perfect crime; girls don't wear ties! Although some do; it's not a perfect crime, but it's a good crime.

Hobson Yes; if she murdered the ties it would be the perfect crime. Why are you so happy about all this?

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The Elephant Man

Understanding a Life Beyond Imagination

Carr Gomm Can you ] the kind of life he must have had?

[[imagine]

Dr. Frederick Treves Yes, I think I can.

Carr Gomm I don't think so. No one could possibly imagine it! I don't believe any of us can!

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Becket

A King's Disdain for Impertinent Diplomacy

King Louis VII of France The King of England and his Ambassadors can drown themselves in what they are impertinent enough to call their ].

[[w:English Channel|English channel]

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Caligula

A Conversation on Life and Afterlife

Caligula Nerva, what's it like?

Nerva Warm, no pain. Just drifting away.

Caligula Do you see her?

Nerva Who?

Caligula The goddess, ].

[[w:Isis|Isis]

Nerva So you're one of those who believe.

Caligula Do you see her?

Nerva No.

Caligula Are you sure? You're almost dead. What's it like? What's happening to you now?

Nerva Nothing.

Caligula You're lying. You can see her, I know you can. What is she like?

Nerva No. Nothing at all. Just sleep.

Caligula Liar!

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Shine

Debating the Challenge of Rachmaninov's Masterpiece

Cecil Parkes Rachmaninov? Are you sure?

David Kind of. I'm not really sure about anything.

Cecil Parkes The Rach 3. It's monumental.

David It's a mountain. The hardest piece you could ever play.

Cecil Parkes No one's ever been mad enough to attempt the Rach Three.

David Am I mad enough, professor? Am I?

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Shine

Family, Freedom, and the Power of Music

Cecil Parkes You must play as if there's no tomorrow.

Isaac Stern America. You know, land of the free, home of the brave. You know, Mickey Mouse.

Gillian Your first concert in years and you wear odd shoes.

Peter Helfgott I’m your father and this is your family!

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Becket

A King’s Reflection on Rivalry and Conflict

King Louis VII of France I'm glad you weren't born on this side of the channel, Thomas. You'd've been a thorn in my side, too.

Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Olympic Aspirations in Unlikely Events

Hobson If projectile vomiting ever becomes an Olympic event, you would do your country proud.

[to Arthur]

Arthur 2: On the Rocks

A Father's Connection With His Son

Hobson Arthur, I've seen your son.

[Arthur is conversing with the ghost of Hobson]

Arthur Oh!

[inebriated, looks stricken]

Hobson I've told him all about you. But he still wants to meet you very much.

Arthur Ah, old man, you're not playing fair!

Around the World in 80 Days

Sanity and Membership in Question

Roland Hesketh-Baggott Must I remind you, Foster, that you are speaking of a member of the Reform Club?

Foster I don't care if he's a member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. The man's mad!

Roland Hesketh-Baggott Actually, excessive sanity is not a necessary qualification for that particular institution.

Caligula

Emperor's Mood Compared to the Weather

Caligula Tell me, how is the emperor?

Nerva Old, like me.

Caligula I mean, how is his mood?

Nerva Like the weather.

Caligula The weather is good today!

Nerva Changeable. I've heard that during the last month, seven of my colleagues in the senate have been put to death for treason.

Caligula Nine, to be exact. Five of them cheated. They killed themselves. That wasn't playing fair. Don't you agree, ]?

[[w:Marcus Cocceius Nerva (jurist)|Nerva]

Nerva They were all good men.

Caligula If they were good men, how could their beloved emperor find them guilty?

Nerva You have a gift for logic, prince.

Shine

The Importance of Preparation in Music

Cecil Parkes The page! For God's sake, the notes!

Peter Helfgott I'm sorry sir, I keep forgetting the notes.

Cecil Parkes Will it be asking too much to learn them first?

Becket

King Louis VII's Concern for Becket's Safety

King Louis VII of France You know, it's a strange thing, but Becket's safety has become quite dear to me.

[to aide]

The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Stakes of War and National Honor

Lord Raglan War. This is war, gentlemen. Our passage to India is threatened, I should think, wouldn't you? The honour, the reputation, the glory of England is threatened, and the Queen's Majesty is sure to be threatened, she is. Poor brave weak little, sick little Turkey--

General Airey ].

[sententiously; [w:The Sick Man of Europe|The Sick Man of Europe]

Raglan Yes, though I prefer to consider her as a young woman, hands up, fluttered, defenceless-- if she should fall to the ], eh? If the Turks go down like cards, flip-flop, then next, up our own ], and our own Queen will come the Russians! Ships and guns to rip our country into shame!

[[w:Nicholas I|Tyrant; [w:The Solent|Solent]

Memorable Quotes from John Gielgud

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