It may be laid down as a general rule that if a man begins to sing, no one will take any notice of his song except his fellow human beings. This is true even if his song is surpassingly beautiful. Other men may be in raptures at his skill, but the re...
The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your ...
A story is alive, as you and I are. It is rounded by muscle and sinew. Rushed with blood. Layered with skin, both rough and smooth. At its core lies soft marrow of hard, white bone. A story beats with the heart of every person who has ever strained e...
The best teachers have showed me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly--we only think it does. The motion of drawing back a bow and sending an arrow straight into a target takes only a split second, but i...
In fact, when we listen to the church today, at least in the West, we are often left with impression that Christianity actually has very little to do with truth. Christianity is only about feeling better about ourselves, about leaping over our diffic...
I believe in all human societies there is a desire to love and be loved, to experience the full fierceness of human emotion, and to make a measure of the sacred part of one's life. Wherever I've traveled--Kenya, Chile, Australia, Japan--I've found th...
My father gave me a ruined boy to compensate for the fact that he does not love me. The boy is fragile, broken—broke himself—broke everything. I asked him why he did it. He said because the world was unlivable. He said it was unlovable, but I thi...
Listen," Francois said. "Yonder is Paris --laughing, tragic Paris, who once had need of a singer to proclaim her splendor and all her misery. Fate made the man; in necessity's mortar she pounded his soul into the shape Fate needed. To king's courts s...
Symptoms of illness and distress, plus your feelings about them, can be viewed as messengers coming to tell you something important about your body or about your mind. In the old days, if a king didn't like the message he was given, he would sometime...
David Marcus: Lieutenant Saavik was right: You never have faced death. Kirk: No. Not like this. I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing. David Marcus: ...
Clarice Starling: Catherine Martin? Catherine Martin: Yes? Clarice Starling: FBI! You're safe! Catherine Martin: Safe? Shit! Get me outta here! Clarice Starling: You're all right, Catherine. Now, where is he? Catherine Martin: How the fuck should I k...
Robert Frobisher: [narrating] Dinner of pheasant with Bordeaux rich as buttercream. How I love to listen to men of distinguished lives sing of past follies and glories. The only broken note in the entire evening was Ayrs' wife, Jocasta, excusing hers...
Mr. Bernstein: Isn't it wonderful? Such a party. Jedediah Leland: Yeah Mr. Bernstein: What's the matter? Jedediah Leland: Bernstein, these men who are now with the Inquirer, who were with the Chronicle until yesterday... [... ] Jedediah Leland: Berns...
Felix Leiter: I should have introduced myself, seeing as we're related. Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley. [sees that Bond has a knife] Felix Leiter: You should have faith. As long as you keep your head about you, I think you have him. James Bond:...
Eric Draven: MURDERER! Tin Tin: I didn't murder nobody man. I don't even fucking know you, man. What the fuck you want, man? Eric Draven: I want you to tell me a story: A man and a woman in a loft a year ago. Tin Tin: You're outta your fucking mind. ...
[Talking in code on a tapped phone] Nicky Santoro: Listen, I gotta meet Clean Face right away, what about the Chez Paris? Nicky Santoro: [subtitles] I gotta meet Charlie the Banker right away at your house, OK? Ace Rothstein: No, you can't, you gotta...
Marquise de Merteuil: When I came out into society, I was fifteen. I already knew that the role I was condemned to, namely to keep quiet and do what I was told, gave me the perfect opportunity to listen and observe. Not to what people told me, which ...
Drill Sergeant: Gump! What's your sole purpose in this army? Forrest Gump: To do whatever you tell me, drill sergeant! Drill Sergeant: God damn it, Gump! You're a god damn genius! This is the most outstanding answer I have ever heard. You must have a...
Car Rental Agent - Los Angeles: Holy smokes! You just backed over two-foot concrete embutment and you didn't even slow down. What were you going, oh I don't know, forty-five miles an hour backwards? Raoul Duke: There's no harm done. I always check th...
Adenoid Hynkel: Declare war on Napaloni. Garbitsch: Napaloni? Adenoid Hynkel: Yes, Napaloni! [to Field Marshal Herring] Adenoid Hynkel: Listen, you blockhead. Mobilise every division of the army and the air force. Proceed to Bacteria and attack at on...
M. Gustave: How does one come by front row aisle seats for a first night at the Opera Toscana with one day's notice? How does one arrange a private viewing of the tapestry collection at the Royal Saxon Gallery? How does one secure a corner table at C...
