[The Empress Dowager has a moment alone with her son, the Tsar, at her birthday party]]
Empress Dowager Marie: "Witte had tea with me today."
Tsar Nicholas II: "Oh, did he?"
Empress Dowager Marie: "He ate all my sturgeon but he never stopped talking. Clever man! He talked about the war like everyone else. He thinks..."
Tsar Nicholas II<cutting her off>: "I know what he thinks."
Empress Dowager Marie: "Nicky, will you please let me finish. I know I am not as clever as everybody makes me out to be but I do know this. Witte thinks we cannot afford wars. They are too ambitious. I very much agree with him. We are an 18th Century nation trying to make it in a 20th Century world. Get out of Korea and forget about Japan. We need all our strength, resources, and money to look after Russia. Do not waste it on those little yellow Buddhists, pagans, or whatever the heck they are called. You only encourage them by taking them seriously."
Tsar Nicholas II: "I am 36 years old, Mama. You must let me look after this war on my own."
Empress Dowager Marie: "It is as your father always said..."
Tsar Nicholas II<again cutting her off as she has hit a sore point>: "Thank you for your kind advice."
Empress Dowager Marie: "Witte had tea with me today."
Tsar Nicholas II: "Oh, did he?"
Empress Dowager Marie: "He ate all my sturgeon but he never stopped talking. Clever man! He talked about the war like everyone else. He thinks..."
Tsar Nicholas II<cutting her off>: "I know what he thinks."
Empress Dowager Marie: "Nicky, will you please let me finish. I know I am not as clever as everybody makes me out to be but I do know this. Witte thinks we cannot afford wars. They are too ambitious. I very much agree with him. We are an 18th Century nation trying to make it in a 20th Century world. Get out of Korea and forget about Japan. We need all our strength, resources, and money to look after Russia. Do not waste it on those little yellow Buddhists, pagans, or whatever the heck they are called. You only encourage them by taking them seriously."
Tsar Nicholas II: "I am 36 years old, Mama. You must let me look after this war on my own."
Empress Dowager Marie: "It is as your father always said..."
Tsar Nicholas II<again cutting her off as she has hit a sore point>: "Thank you for your kind advice."
[The Empress Dowager has a moment alone with her son, the Tsar, at her birthday party]]
Empress Dowager Marie : "Witte had tea with me today."
Tsar Nicholas II : "Oh, did he?"
Empress Dowager Marie : "He ate all my sturgeon but he never stopped talking. Clever man! He talked about the war like everyone else. He thinks..."
Tsar Nicholas II <cutting her off>: "I know what he thinks."
Empress Dowager Marie : "Nicky, will you please let me finish. I know I am not as clever as everybody makes me out to be but I do know this. Witte thinks we cannot afford wars. They are too ambitious. I very much agree with him. We are an 18th Century nation trying to make it in a 20th Century world. Get out of Korea and forget about Japan. We need all our strength, resources, and money to look after Russia. Do not waste it on those little yellow Buddhists, pagans, or whatever the heck they are called. You only encourage them by taking them seriously."
Tsar Nicholas II : "I am 36 years old, Mama. You must let me look after this war on my own."
Empress Dowager Marie : "It is as your father always said..."
Tsar Nicholas II <again cutting her off as she has hit a sore point>: "Thank you for your kind advice."
http://www.moviequotedb.com/movies/nicholas-/quote_82732.html