Memorable Quotes from Peter Ustinov
11 quotesCuriosity About Hands and Their Significance
Old Man
Why did you want to see my hand earlier, show me yours. Oh my. Can I have one of those?
[Logan opens his left hand, revealing his embedded clear life-clock.; Jessica does the same, showing hers]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning the Effectiveness of Dietary Changes
Augusto Odone
Dr. Nikolais, what about the other boys, what results are you seeing in them?
Professor Nikolais
As with Lorenzo, it's too early to tell. We need the study to run for the full six months.
Augusto Odone
And that would tell you what is obvious right now? That avoiding apple skins and pizza has no effect on this brutal disease?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Life and Choices
Old Man
* On the cats; an abridged version of ] by ]
[[Wikisource:The Naming of Cats|The Naming of Cats; [T. S. Eliot]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Overlooked Tragedy of Orphan Diseases
Professor Nikolais
Do you know how many children die every year from choking on french fries? Many more than from Adrenoleukodystrophy. You see, ours is what is known as an orphan disease, too small to be noticed, too small to be funded, especially with the iron hand of "]".
[[w:Reaganomics|Reaganomics]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Discomfort of Youth Observing Elders at Play
Rupert Venneker
Nothing is as revolting to the young than to see their elders at play.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Race Against Time to the Gallery
Miss Piggy
Do you know where Lady Holliday's Baseball Diamond is being kept?
[to the truck driver]
Truck Driver
Well, funny enough, I do: it's at the Mallory Gallery, a virtually impregnable fortress many miles from here.
Miss Piggy
Oh! I only have a half an hour to get there!
Truck Driver
On foot? You'll never make it.
Miss Piggy
I know! How about a ride?
Truck Driver
You can read, I presume? "No passengers.
[points to the sticker on the truck's door]
Miss Piggy
Oh, couldn't you make an exception for little old moi?
Truck Driver
Not even for little old vous.
[laughs]
Miss Piggy
Pretty please?
Truck Driver
No!
Miss Piggy
I've tried to be nice.
[strained]
Truck Driver
Huh?
Miss Piggy
Hii-yahh!
[throws the driver out of his truck and into the garbage cans]
Oscar the Grouch
Hey, what's all the racket?
[emerges from a trash can]
Truck Driver
What are you doing here?
Oscar the Grouch
A very brief cameo.
Truck Driver
Me too. Tsk tsk.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Sailing Skills and Family Banter
Sean Carmody
Why'd you leave?
[on hearing Venneker had been a ship's captain]
Rupert Venneker
My stomach. I was a notoriously bad sailor.
Sean Carmody
Dad says you must have been a better sailor than you are a horseman.
Rupert Venneker
What the devil is he talking about? I was cashiered from the 17th Lancers before he knew one end of a horse from the other! NOT that he does now! Hah!
Sean Carmody
What does cashiered mean?
Rupert Venneker
Uh - kind of promotion from the army into civilian life.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Call for Courage in Adversity
Michaela Odone
The life of one boy is not enough reward for you to risk the reputation of the institution and the esteem of your peers.
Professor Nikolais
That was uncalled for. Your responsibility is merely towards your own child. My responsibility is towards all the boys that suffer from this disease, now and in the future. Of course I anguish for the suffering of your boy. And of course I applaud you for the efforts you make on his behalf. But I will have nothing to do with this oil.
Michaela Odone
We are not asking, Doctor, for your anguish or your applause. We are asking merely for a little courage.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Journey Beyond Familiarity
Sean Carmody
Gee, it's gonna be fun. This is the first time I've ever been away from home.
Shearer
What, with your mom and dad not fifty yards outside that window, and you call that being away from home?
Rupert Venneker
Certainly. Being out in the world is a state of mind, not of geography. The distance between that tent and this bunker is the longest journey you will ever make in your life.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Disagreement Over Attire and Respect
Paddy Carmody
Do me a favor, will you? If you're gonna be a drover, look like a drover. Get rid of that silly flaming hat.
Rupert Venneker
Let me tell you about this silly flaming hat, my good man.
Paddy Carmody
And don't call me that. I'm not your good man.
Rupert Venneker
Would you prefer boss?
Paddy Carmody
Wouldn't be a bad idea.
Rupert Venneker
This cap belonged to a ship's master in the China trade.
Paddy Carmody
Oh, what happened to him?
Rupert Venneker
Nothing happened to him. He's just not going to call you boss, that's all.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Complexity of Naming Cats
Old Man
You know, they've each got three names. Yes. The naming of cats is a difficult matter, It's just not one of your holiday games; You may think at first that I am mad as a hatter, When I tell you that each cat's got three different names. See, they got their ordinary name and then they got their fancy name. And that makes two names, doesn't it? And now it's got a third name. Can either of you two guess what that third name is? (beat) Come on! (beat) Above and beyond, there's one name that's left over, and this is the name you never will guess. The name that no human research can discover, but the cat itself knows, and never will confess.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.