Anna and the King (1999) - Quotes

Cultural Exchange Through Dance and Dialogue

Anna Leonowens: [Gazing at the King on a balcony] What?

King Mongkut: Am wondering, giving circumstances, if it is proper for king to ask Anna to dance.

Anna Leonowens: I have danced with a king before, Your Majesty.

King Mongkut: And I with an English woman.

King Mongkut: Until now, Madame Leonowens, I did not understand supposition, man can be satisfied with only one woman.

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A Return Driven by Unimaginable Loss

King Mongkut: Why did you come back?

Anna Leonowens: Because I could not imagine a Siam without you.

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A Mother's Resolve Against Loss

Anna Leonowens: Because I already lost one man to the jungle, your majesty... I wasn't about to let it happen again.

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The Conflict of Leadership and Change

Anna Leonowens: You have the power to lead your people...

King Mongkut: Now is not the time to change the way that things are done!

Anna Leonowens: Well, if not now, then when? How many more people must die so that you might save face?

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A King's Dilemma Over His Heirs

King Mongkut: If Alak crosses the bridge, everything I love will die.

Anna Leonowens: But they are only children!

King Mongkut: Yes, and heirs to the royal throne.

Anna Leonowens: What will you do?

King Mongkut: We will blow up the bridge.

Anna Leonowens: Will that work?

King Mongkut: It will, if he is on it.

Anna Leonowens: Your Majesty, promise me, promise me I will see you again!

King Mongkut: If your Bible is correct, then the world was created in seven days. Who is to say that four men can not stop an army?

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A Moment's Decision in Uncertain Times

Anna Leonowens: Lord Bradley, may I have a moment?

Lord Bradley: I'm afraid a moment is all we have.

Lady Bradley: We're leaving on the next boat, and so should you.

Anna Leonowens: My place is here.

Lord Bradley: Your question?

Anna Leonowens: Are the British behind these Burmese attacks?

Mr. Kincaid: Stick to teaching, Ms. Leonowens. It's clear that you know nothing of pollitics.

Anna Leonowens: I know that Burma would never make a move without England's blessing.

Lord Bradley: Precisely. But, if our economy was threatened, then it would be our duty to protect our interests.

Anna Leonowens: Our economy?! Our interests?!

Lady Bradley: The ways of England are the ways of the world, my dear.

Anna Leonowens: Yes, a world that I am ashamed to call my own!

Lord Bradley: You forget yourself madam. Now if you will excuse us.

Anna Leonowens: No, I will not. You toasted him! You praised him for his learning! And all the while you were planning to take the throne from him!

Lord Bradley: Well, you should do well to remember your own self, next time you are cheek to cheek with the king!

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The King's Many Wives Explained

Louis: Moonshee, why does the king have so many wives?

Moonshee: That is an excellent question — For your mother.

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Conflict Between Royalty and Commonality

Prince Chulalongkorn: Son of teacher forgets that I am son of King.

Louis Leonowens: Son of teacher couldn't care less.

Anna Leonowens: Louis, remember what I told you.

Louis Leonowens: I'm sorry Mother, but he started it.

Prince Chulalongkorn: In my country, man never tell a woman he is sorry. If you had father, you would know this.

Louis Leonowens: You don't have a father, you have a map.

Anna Leonowens: Louis!

Prince Chulalongkorn: It is forbidden to touch royalty.

Louis Leonowens: I didn't touch you — I shoved you. Why don't you get one of your servants to shove me back?

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Journeys and Destinations in Life's Roads

Anna Leonowens: My mind has taken me down many roads of late. All of which lead absolutely nowhere. What would Buddha say of that?

King Mongkut: That roads are for journeys, ma'am, not destinations.

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Charming Encounters with the King

Beebe: How was the King compared to the other Englishmen?

Anna Leonowens: He was charming, very charming. I don't think I will ever forget, how he held his hand out to me, like I was...

Beebe: One of his 26 wives?

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A Unique Dance Encounter Between Cultures

King Mongkut: I have never danced with a English woman before.

Anna Leonowens: Nor I with a king.

Age and Wisdom Are Not Synonymous

King Mongkut: You are teacher?

Anna Leonowens: Yes, Your Majesty, I am.

King Mongkut: You do not look sufficient of age for scientific teaching. How many years have you?

Anna Leonowens: Enough to know that age and wisdom do not necessarily go hand in hand, Your Majesty.

The Power of a Woman's Silence

King Mongkut: [to Anna] When a woman who has much to say says nothing, her silence can be deafening.

The Importance of Legends in Dreaming

Anna Leonowens: Everyone should have legends. It allows us to dream.

Perception Shapes Our Understanding of Reality

Anna Leonowens: Most people do not see the world as it is. They see it as they are.

The Value of Life in Faith

Anna Leonowens: [to King Mongkut] Life is... precious, especially if you're a Christian and only allowed to have one.

A Vision for a Modern Siam

Anna Leonowens: In my letter confirming my employment, Your Majesty, you claimed you wanted Siam to take its place among the nations of the modern world. You spoke of building something greater than yourself. A country where no man is above the law. Which is why I chose to come here.

The Impact of Meaningful Moments in Life

Prince Chulalongkorn: It is always surprising how small a part of life is taken up by meaningful moments. Most often they are over before they start, although they cast a light on the future and make the person who originated them unforgettable. Anna had shined such a light on Siam.

A Father's Love Endures Through Time

Prince Chulalongkorn: I was only a boy, but the image of my father holding the woman he loved for the last time has remained with me throughout the years.

First Encounter with an English Woman

Prince Chulalongkorn: She was the first English woman I had ever met. And it seemed to me she knew more about the world than anyone. But it was a world Siam was afraid would consume them. The monsoon winds had whispered her arrival like a coming storm. Some welcomed the rain, but others feared a raging flood. Still she came, unaware of the suspicion that preceded her. But it wasn't until years later, that I began to appreciate how brave she was, and how alone she must have felt. An English woman. The first I had ever met.