Ashley Wilkes Now the end is coming...the end of the war. The end of our world, Scarlett...My men are barefooted now, and the snow in Virginia is deep.
Played by Leslie Howard 
Gone with the Wind (1939) · 106 quotes
Gone with the Wind (1939) · 106 quotes
4th most-quoted character in Gone with the Wind (1939): in 7 of its 106 quotes
Most scenes with: Scarlett O'Hara (3)
Most of the miseries of the world were caused by wars. And, when the wars were over, no one ever knew what they were about.
More lines from Ashley Wilkes
3 quotes Ashley Wilkes Ashley Wilkes You must be brave...You must. How else can I bear going? Oh Scarlett, you are so fine and strong and beautiful. Not just your sweet face, my dear. But you.
Ashley Wilkes If Georgia fights, I go with her.
Scenes with Ashley Wilkes
3 scenes Ashley Isn't it enough that you've gathered every other man's heart today? You've always had mine. You cut your teeth on it.
Don't tease me now. Have I your heart my darling? I love you. I love you.
Ashley You mustn't say such things. You'll hate me for hearing them.
I could never hate you. And I know you must care about me. Oh, you do care, don't you?
Ashley Yes, I do care. Oh, can't we go away and forget we ever said these things?
But how can we do that? Don't you... don't you want to marry me?
Ashley I'm going to marry Melanie.
But you can't. Not if you care for me!
Ashley Oh my dear, why must you make me say things that will hurt you? How can I make you understand? You're so young and unthinking. You don't know what marriage means.
All I know is that I love you! And you don't love Melanie!
Ashley She's like me, Scarlett. She's part of my blood and we understand each other.
But you love me!
Ashley How could I help loving you - you who has all the passion for life that I lack? But that kind of love isn't enough to make a successful marriage for two people who are as different as we are.
Why don't you say it you coward? You're afraid to marry me. You'd rather live with that silly old fool who can't open her mouth except to say 'yes, no' and raise a couple of brats just like her!
Ashley You mustn't say things about Melanie.
Who are you to tell me I mustn't? You lead me on, you made me believe you wanted to marry me!
Ashley Now Scarlett, be fair. I never at any time-
You did! It's true! You did! I'll hate you till I die! I can't think of anything bad enough to call you!
[Scarlett slaps him. He exits and in her fury she throws a vase. Rhett rises from behind the sofa.]
Has the war started?
Sir, you..you should have made your presence known.
In the middle of that beautiful love scene? That wouldn't be very tactful, would it? But don't worry, your secret is safe with me.
Sir, you are no gentleman.
And you, miss, are no lady...Don't think that I hold that against you. Ladies have never held any charm for me.
Ashley Yes, we've traveled a long road since the old days, haven't we, Scarlett?...the golden warmth and security of those days.
Don't look back Ashley, don't look back. It'll drag at your heart until you can't do anything but look back.
Ashley [about a dying Melanie]
I can't live without her. I can't. Everything I ever had is going with her...She's the only dream I ever had that didn't die in the face of reality.
Ashley, you should have told me years ago that you loved her and not me, and not left me dangling with your talk of honor. But you had to wait till now, now when Melly's dying. To show me that I could never be any more to you than, than this Watling woman is to Rhett ..And I've loved something that doesn't really exist. Somehow, I don't care. Somehow, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter one bit.
