The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) · 39 quotes
4th most-quoted character in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957): in 8 of its 39 quotes
Most scenes with: Col. Nicholson (3)
Madness!...Madness! Madness!
Maj. Clipton Colonel Saito. I've seen and heard everything. So has every man in the hospital. There are too many witnesses. You'll never get away with calling it a mass escape. Most of those men can't walk...Is this your soldier's code? Murdering unarmed men?
Maj. Clipton Are they both mad or am I going mad? Or is it the sun?
Maj. Clipton The fact is, what we're doing could be construed as, forgive me sir, collaboration with the enemy. Perhaps even as treasonable activity...Must we work so well. Must we build them a better bridge than they could have built for themselves?
Oh, I'd say the odds against a successful escape are about 100 to 1...But may I add another word, Colonel...The odds against survival in this camp are even worse. You've seen the graveyard. There you realize. You give up hope of escape. To even stop thinking about it is like accepting a death sentence.
Why haven't you tried to escape, Commander?
Oh, I've been biding my time, waiting for the right moment, the right company.
I understand how you feel. Of course, it's normally the duty of a captured soldier to attempt escape. But my men and I are involved in a curious legal point of which you are unaware. In Singapore, we were ordered to surrender by Command Headquarters, ordered, mind you. Therefore, in our case, escape might well be an infraction of military law. Interesting?
Dr. Clipton Yes, interesting point.
I'm sorry sir. I didn't quite follow you. You mean you intend to uphold the letter of the law, no matter what it costs.
Without law, Commander, there is no civilization.
Well see, that's my point. Here, there is no civilization.
Then, we have the opportunity to introduce it. I suggest that we drop the subject of escape.
Enlisted prisoners sabotaged the work. I have seen it. I could have them all shot.
Clipton Then, who would build your bridge? Besides, are you sure it is sabotage? Perhaps the men don't work well without their own officers to direct them.
My officers will direct them. Your officers will work beside them.
Clipton That's for Colonel Nicholson to decide. As he pointed out, it's against the rules.
Do not speak to me of rules. This is war. This is not a game of cricket. He's mad, your Colonel. Quite mad.
That man's [Saito] the worst commanding officer I've ever come across. Actually, I think he's mad...Blackmail...
Clipton I know, sir. He means it. I'm sure he does. It's a question of face, pure and simple. He can't give in.
It's still blackmail.
Clipton Sir, you can't stand much more of this. And wouldn't the officers be better off working than suffocating in that hole? The men are doing a wonderful job. They're going as slow as they dare. But Saito has cut their food rations. And if he makes the sick men work, well, they're going to die. That's all there is to it.
Yes Clipton, I understand, truly. But don't you see. It's a matter of principle. If we give in now, there'll be no end to it. No...I'm adamant. I will not have an officer from my battalion working as a coolie!
We're not going to finish the bridge on time...We haven't the manpower, that's all. I've asked the officers to lend a hand and they've agreed. But even that won't do it.
Clipton You mean the officers are going to work on the bridge?
Yes. I explained the situation to them and they volunteered to a man, but it's not enough.
Clipton Why didn't you ask Saito and some of his men?
Wouldn't dream of it! No, this is our show. We must make the most of our own resources. As a matter of fact, that's what I came to talk to you about. The sick list.
