Commander Shears: You mean, you intend to uphold the letter of the law, no matter what it costs? Colonel Nicholson: Without law, Commander, there is no civilization. Commander Shears: That's just my point; here, there is no civilization. Colonel Nich...
Major Reeves: By the way, sir, I meant to tell you, there are trees in this forest very similar to elm. And the elm piles of London Bridge lasted six hundred years. Colonel Nicholson: Six hundred years, Reeves? Major Reeves: Yes, sir. Colonel Nichols...
Major Clipton: [visits Nicholson in the oven] Sir, you can't stand much more of this. And wouldn't the men be better off working rather than being kept in those cells? The men are doing a wonderful job of it, they're going as slow as they dare; but S...
Maj. Warden: [to Col. Green] Sir, it's most annoying. They say, in view of the time element, they don't think a few practice jumps would be worthwhile. Major Shears: No? Maj. Warden: No, they say if you make one jump, you've only got 50% chance of in...
Maj. Warden: [lowering binoculars] Kill him... Kill him! Major Shears: [screaming] KILL HIM! KILL HIM!
Nurse at Ceylon hospital: [both characters are on the beach, discussing the evening's plans] I know, you're terribly sorry, but you're standing me up tonight. Major Shears: You couldn't be more wrong!
[after speaking with Nicholson and Saito, neither of whom will relent] Major Clipton: Are they both mad? Or am I going mad? Or is it the sun?
Colonel Saito: Attention, English prisoners! Notice I do not say "English soldiers". From the moment you surrendered, you ceased to be soldiers. You will finish the bridge by the twelfth day of May. You will work under the direction of a Japanese eng...
Colonel Nicholson: It is quite understandable; it's a very natural reaction. But one day - in a week, a month, a year - on that day when, God willing, we all return to our homes again, you're going to feel very proud of what you have achieved here in...
Colonel Green: You were an accountant in Montreal? Lieutenant Joyce: Yes, sir. Uh, not really an accountant, sir. That is, I didn't have my charter. Colonel Green: Exactly what did you do? Lieutenant Joyce: Well, sir, I just checked columns and colum...
Colonel Nicholson: I realize how difficult it's going to be in this god-forsaken place where you can't find what you need, but there's the challenge.
Colonel Nicholson: We can teach these barbarians a lesson in Western methods and efficiency that will put them to shame. We'll show them what the British soldier is capable of doing.
Nurse at Ceylon hospital: What makes you so sure you'll get a medical discharge? Commander Shears: Because I'm a civilian at heart, lover, and I always follow my heart.
Colonel Nicholson: I tell you, gentlemen, we have a problem on our hands.
Colonel Green: Good show! Jolly good show, Major!
Colonel Green: As I've told you before, in a job like yours, even when it's finished, there's always one more thing to do.
Colonel Nicholson: Queer bird... even for an American.
Commander Shears: [referring to Col. Saito, who had a machine gun brought up to threaten Col. Nicholson and his officers] He's going to do it, believe me, he's really going to do it!
