This isn't to deny that there were fierce arguments, at the time and ever since, about the causes and goals of both the Civil War and the Second World War. But 1861 and 1941 each created a common national narrative (which happened to be the victors' ...
Will you destroy something in order to make it beautiful? Will you avoid something in order to fall in love with it? Will you sacrifice something just so that you get it? Will you maintain distance from someone in order to get him close? We often mak...
The teacher took two long strides and stood beside Parker’s desk. Before the boy could speak, Mr. Earl threw the desktop open. For a second, he stared into it. A white glow reflected off his face. “What is this?” he said, as he reached toward t...
Hey now, wait a second. When will I see you again? You can’t leave a poor lad dangling like that!” His look of bewilderment made me bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Why would you w-want to?” The words were out before I could stop them. A r...
X: The organizing principle of any society, Mr. Garrison, is for war. The authority of the state over its people resides in its war powers. Kennedy wanted to end the Cold War in his second term. He wanted to call off the moon race and cooperate with ...
Lester Diamond: I'm looking at you right now. I'm seeing you for the very first time right this minute. I'm seeing you and I can feel my heart click. I see you fourteen years old. I see the first second i ever saw you. I see you long-legged little co...
Renfield: I'm loyal to you, Master, I am your slave, I didn't betray you! Oh, no, don't! Don't kill me! Let me live, please! Punish me, torture me, but let me live! I can't die with all those lives on my conscience! All that blood on my hands! [Dracu...
John McClane: You know this guy Simon we're talking to? Zeus: Yeah. John McClane: I threw his little brother off the thirty-second floor of Nakatomi Towers out in L.A. I guess he's a little pissed off about it. Zeus: Wait a minute. You mean to tell m...
English: Ten years ago, I was in this bar in Alabama when two dudes started hassling me. That was their first mistake. They pulled knives. That was their second mistake. They didn't know how to use them. That was the last mistake they ever made. I go...
Narrator: [introducing the soundtrack] Before we get into the second half of the program, I'd like to introduce somebody to you. Somebody who's very important to Fantasia. He's very shy and very retiring. I just happened to run across him one day at ...
[Dom and Brian enter the Jordanian Prince's private vault and see the W Motors Lykan HyperSport] Brian O'Conner: Do you realize what this is? Lykan HyperSport. $3.4 million, 0-60 in less than 3 seconds. There's seven of these in the world and this gu...
[first lines] Oscar Grant: What's your resolution? Sophina: I'm gonna cut carbs. Oscar Grant: Aren't you Mexican? You can't eat nothin' Grandma makes. Sophina: It only takes 30 days to form a habit, and then it becomes second nature. Oscar Grant: Who...
Mikey: Don't you realize? The next time you see sky, it'll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it'll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what's right for them. Becau...
Waiter: [Hermione hides from Cormac at the Christmas party. Waiter offers hors d'oeuvres] Dragon tartare? Hermione Granger: No, thank you. Harry Potter: I'm fine. Waiter: Just as well. They give you terrible bad breath. Hermione Granger: On second th...
Sid: So she picks this hair off my shoulder, and says, "If you're gonna have a second mating dance, at least pick a sloth with the same color pelt." And I'm thinkin', "Whoa! She's gonna go praying-mantis on me." Know what I'm saying? Manny: Hey, if y...
Lt. Aldo Raine: Well, I speak the most Italian, so I'll be your escort. Donowitz speaks the second most, so he'll be your Italian cameraman. Omar speaks third most, so he'll be Donny's assistant. Pfc. Omar Ulmer: I don't speak Italian. Lt. Aldo Raine...
Centurion: You know the penalty laid down by Roman law for harboring a known criminal? Matthias: No. Centurion: Crucifixion! Matthias: Oh. Centurion: Nasty, eh? Matthias: Could be worse. Centurion: What you mean "Could be worse"? Matthias: Well, you ...
[Gandalf picks up a book that the skeleton of a Dwarf was holding] Legolas: [to Aragorn] We must move on, we cannot linger. Gandalf: [starts reading from the book] They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot ho...
[first lines] Christopher "Chris" Wilton: The man who said "I'd rather be lucky than good" saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It's scary to think so much is out of one's control. There are m...
Hawkeye Pierce: I know how we can make some money. We leave him... [points to Spearchucker] Hawkeye Pierce: out of the first half of the game, we bet half our money, they roll up some points. Now, second half of the game, we stick him in, we bet the ...
[last title card] Title card: So, for the second time, the Pharisees summoned the man who had been blind and said: / "Speak the truth before God. / We know this fellow is a sinner." / "Whether or not he is a sinner, I do not know," / The man replied....