I do hateful things for which people love me, and I do loveable things for which they hate me. I'm admired for my detestability. Now don't worry, Little Eva. I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread.--Reporter Hornbeck
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"The prophet from Nebraska!"
share"I am more interested in the Rock Of Ages than the age of rocks."
"Who are the Brain Police"--Frank Zappa
In a child's power to master the multiplication table, there is more sanctity than in all your shouted "amens" and "holy holies" and "hosannas." An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes or the parting of the waters.
shareMany of the lines are just classic. I could hardly pick just one, but a lot of them have already been said so I'll add another classic line from Hornbeck.
"It's the duty of a newspaper to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!"
Agreed there are many great lines in what is a great movie.
A personal favourite: "I'm a man, not a sponge!" that whole scene is both funny and significant.
"This man wishes to have the same rights as a sponge, the right to think!" something like that anyway!
"Fanaticisum & ignorance is forever busy & needs feeding."
"...with banners flying and drums beating we march backwards, backwards through the glorious ages of the 16th century .
Thats my every-day quote....see below.
"Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding."
Hornbeck to Drummond in hotel with the mob outside." Henry Why dont you wake up Darwin was wrong man's still an ape"
shareThere are so many, and some have already been mentioned but this exchange always makes me laugh...
Townswoman: You're the stranger, ain'tcha? Are you looking for a nice, clean place to stay?
E. K. Hornbeck: Madam, I had a nice clean place to stay... and I left it, to come here.
As a Christian who finds non-religious things (my education, art, human kindness) more spiritually fulfilling than reading the Bible and going to Church, I've always liked this quote:
Drummond: "The Bible is a book. It's a good book, but it's not the only book."
And as a writer, I always get a grim chuckle out of this...
Drummond: "You ever been in love, Hornbeck?"
Hornbeck: "Only with the sound of my own words, thank God."
A young girl passes / in a hurry. Hair uncombed. / Full of black devils. --Kelly Link
"In a child's power to master the multiplication table, there is more sanctity than in all your shouted "amens" and "holy holies" and "hosannas." An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes or the parting of the waters."
^This
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Brady: Henry Drummond and I have worked side by side on a good many battles for the rights of the common folk of this country. Twice he campaigned for me when I ran for President. Isn't that right, Henry?
Drummond: That's right, Matt.
Brady: Now after all these years we find ourselves on the opposite side of an issue.
Drummond: Well, that's evolution for you.
Hornbeck's reply to the townlady's question whether he was looking for a nice clean place in town to stay always cracks me up "Madam, I had a nice clean place to stay... and I left it to come here.."
My most favorite, although I don't really get the meaning of it to this day is "He who sups with the devil must have a long spoon..."
bebop63-1- thanks for posting your favorite quote.
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Almost all the best quotes have been posted but I just like to say that there are several examples of the CHIASMUS, inversion in the second of two parallel phrases, in this movie.
The most-recognized movie chiasmus is from I'm No Angel (1933) with Mae West saying "It's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men."
1. When Cates asked Hornbeck who the lawyer provided by the Baltimore Herald
Hornbeck: I don’t know yet, but what’s the difference? A new lawyer with old tricks, an old lawyer with new tricks.
2. Same scene when Hornbeck agrees with Rachel about his cynicism
Hornbeck: I do hateful things for which people love me, and I do lovable things for which they hate me. (posted by shutterbug iconium)
3. At the hotel
Brady: Oh, it’s you again, Mr. Hornbeck. I read your article yesterday. Very biased reporting, I must say.
Hornbeck: Mr. Brady, it’s the duty of a newspaper to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. (posted by BobStage)
4. With Brady in the witness box
Drummond: [holding a rock] How old do you think this rock is?
Brady: I am more interested in the Rock Of Ages than I am in the age of rocks. (posted by ggjohn)
Billy Wilder Page, Play the Movie Smiley Game
www.screenwritingdialogue.com
Thank you for sharing the examples. Duly noted.
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Now don't worry, Little Eva. I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread.I'm glad someone else remembered that one. Everyone picked truly great lines.
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