10 quotes
A Call for Self-Rescue and Action
Paul Rusesabagina
There will be no rescue, no intervention force. We can only save ourselves. Many of you know influential people abroad, you must call these people. You must tell them what will happen to us... say goodbye. But when you say goodbye, say it as though you are reaching through the phone and holding their hand. Let them know that if they let go of that hand, you will die. We must shame them into sending help.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Nature of Human Cruelty
Paul
(discussing about massacre by the river road) Hundreds? it was too many to count.
Dube
(pauses) Why are people so cruel?
Paul
Hatred? Insanity? I don't know.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Incitement to Violence in Rwanda
RTLM broadcast
Listen to me good people of Rwanda. Terrible news. Horrible news. ] by the Tutsi cockroaches. They tricked him into signing their phony peace agreement then they shot his plane from the sky. It is time to clear the great brush, good Hutus of Rwanda. We must cut the tall trees. Cut all tall trees down! Let us get to work good Hutus! Find the traitors! Let none escape!
[[W:Assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira|Our great president is murdered]
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Admiration Amidst Chaos
Paul
You know, I admire you general. How do you keep calm of your men in such madness?
General Bizimungu
I am a strong man Paul.
Paul
I wish I were more like you. I mean look at my staff (pointing at Gregoire flirting with a woman) he won't work, listens to no one.
General Bizimungu
(Sees Gregoire) He is staff?
Paul
Oh yes.
General Bizimungu
(Walks over to Gregoire and throws ice bucket on to him) Get back to work you slob! (Hitting Gregoire) Go!
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Value Beyond Monetary Worth
Dube
Oh, that is a fine cigar sir!
Paul
This is a ], each one is worth 10,000 ].
[[w:Cohiba (cigar brand)|Cohiba cigar; [w:Rwandan franc|Francs]
Dube
10,000 Francs!
Paul
Yes yes, but it's worth more to me than 10,000 Francs.
Dube
What do you mean, sir?
Paul
If I give a businessman 10,000 Francs, what does that matter to him? He is rich. But, if I give him a Cohiba Cigar straight from Havana, Cuba? Hey, Now that is style Dube.
Dube
Style!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Hutu Power and Historical Grievances
Georges Rutaganda
When people ask me, good listeners, why do I hate all the Tutsi, I say, "Read our history." The Tutsi were collaborators for the Belgian colonists, they stole our Hutu land, they whipped us. Now they have come back, these Tutsi rebels. They are cockroaches. They are murderers. Rwanda is our Hutu land. We are the majority. They are a minority of traitors and invaders. We will squash this infestation. We will wipe out the RPF rebels. This is ], Hutu power radio. Stay alert. Watch your neighbours.
[''first lines, voiceover''; [w:RTLM|RTLM]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Despair Amidst Violence and Loss
Tatiana
My brother is dead, they would never leave their children.
Paul
Perhaps they could not make it home Tatiana, they're hiding. Please, can you return and bring the girls back here to us?
Pat Archer
I can't, there are Interahamwe roadblocks everywhere. (pauses; Tatiana is weeping) When I reached the orphanage, the Interahamwe were there. They already started killing children. They made me watch. Then, there was one girl, she had her little sister wrapped on her back. (weeping) As they're about to chop her, she cried out to me, "please don't let them kill me. I... I promise I won't be Tutsi anymore.
Tatiana
I... I can't- (walks away)
Pat Archer
They're targeting Tutsi children, Paul, to wipe out the next generation.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Despair Amidst Crises in Hotel Rwanda
Paul
You have no whiskey?
George
No whiskey, no spirits. Your rich guests will have to do without their scotch. Anyway, Paul, I have bled that cow enough now.
Paul
What are you saying, George?
George
Your rich cockroaches at the hotel... their money is no good to them anymore. Soon, all of the Tutsis will be dead.
Paul
You do not honestly believe that you can kill them all.
George
And why not? Why not? We are halfway there already. Oh, and Paul, I will give you a crate of soft drinks for the kids. No charge. Ten bags of beans! Come! Put those in the van, you! Let me give you a tip my friend, our generals in the army say do not go near the Mille Collines or they will send the Belgian soldiers back here'. But soon, those generals will have gone, and we will be in charge. It is time to butcher your cow for the meat. Maybe you can help us Paul. You have some very important traitors at your hotel. Now, if we were to get them, then maybe we could let you have one of two cockroaches of your own. You understand?
[To his men; To Paul; Pauses]
Paul
It is almost dawn, George. We really must be going.
George
Take the river road back. It's clear.
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The Importance of Witnessing Atrocities
Jack
Listen, sorry about earlier. If I knew you that you were in there, I wouldn't-
Paul
I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack
(pauses) Yeah and if no one intervenes? It's still a good thing to show?
Paul
How can they not intervene? When they witness such atrocities?
Jack
I think that when people see this footage, they'll say, "Oh my God, that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Toast Amidst Chaos
Paul
The rebels are getting closer, yes?
General Bizimungu
The rebels can have this graveyard. We have ordered everyone out of the city. Here. Have a drink. You know what the Scottish call it?
[After taking a drink of Paul's whisky]
Paul
No.
General Bizimungu
]- water of life. I went once on a tour of the finest single malt distillery in the world. Have you ever been to Scotland?
[[w:Uisge beatha|Uisge beatha]
Paul
No, sir.
General Bizimungu
Wonderful country. ]. I wonder, will I ever go back? What do you think?
[[w:Golf in Scotland|Wonderful golf]
Paul
No- I hope we all get to do a great many things, General. Can we go now. please, sir?
General Bizimungu
I am going to do you a great favor, Paul. Private.
[To a soldier]
Private
Yes, sir!
General Bizimungu
Pack those carefully. put them in my keep, and guard them. I am going to take you with us, to our new headquarters in Gitarama.
[To Paul]
Paul
I do not want to go to Gitarama, sir.
General Bizimungu
Well, you can't go back to the hotel. The crazy men are on their way there now.
Paul
General, we must go back, so that I can get my family!
General Bizimungu
Trust me. We are better off here.
Paul
General....these are difficult times. We need to help one another.
General Bizimungu
And what help can I get from you, Paul?
Paul
You are a marked man, sir.
General Bizimungu
How so?
Paul
You are on a list! The Americans have you on their list as a war criminal!
General Bizimungu
Paul, I am sick and tired of your lies!
Paul
Are you stupid, General?! How do you think these people operate?! You sit here with five stars on your chest; who do you think they're coming after?! (Bizimungu realizes what Paul just said) We will go to Gitarama, and you'll stay on that list.
General Bizimungu
I committed no war crimes.
Paul
Who will tell them? You need me to tell them how you helped at the hotel. They blame you for all their misfortunes - they say you lead the massacres!
General Bizimungu
I lead no massacres!
Paul
Do you think they will believe you?!
General Bizimungu
You will tell them the truth!
Paul
I will tell them nothing unless you help me! (sees Bizimungu attempting to pull out his handgun) What are you going to do, shoot me? Shoot me. Please, shoot me. It would be a blessing, I will pay you to shoot my family. You cannot hurt me.
Pat Archer
They said that there wasn't any room.
Paul Rusesabagina
There's always room.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.