Colonel Dax If any soldiers in the world can take it, we'll take the Ant Hill.
2nd most-quoted character in Paths of Glory (1957): in 8 of its 35 quotes
Most scenes with: General Paul Mireau (2)
What would your, er, newspapers and your politicians do with that?...you are in a difficult position. Too much has happened. Someone's got to be hurt. The only question is who. General Mireau's assault on the Ant Hill failed. His order to fire on his own troops was refused. But his attempt to murder three innocent men to protect his own reputation will be prevented by the General's staff.
More lines from Colonel Dax
3 quotes Colonel Dax Colonel Dax Stick to the stories you've told me, and don't let the prosecutor shake you out of them. Now remember, you'll be soldiers in the presence of superior officers, so act like what you are - soldiers! - and brave ones at that...When you answer questions, look the judges in the eye, don't whine, plead, or make speeches. That's my job. Simple statements, short, but make them so they can be heard all over the room and try not to repeat yourselves. I'll do that for you when I sum up.
Colonel Dax There are times when I am ashamed to be a member of the human race and this is one such occasion...I protest against being prevented from introducing evidence that I consider vital to the defense, the prosecution presented no witnesses, there has never been a written indictment of charges made against the defendants, and lastly, I protest against the fact that no stenographic record of this trial has been kept. The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honor of France, but this court-martial is such a stain...Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty will be a crime to haunt each of you to the day you die. I can't believe that the noblest impulse in man, his compassion for another, can be completely dead here. Therefore, I humbly beg you to show mercy to these men.
Scenes with Colonel Dax
4 scenes
I never got in the habit of sitting. I like to be on my feet. Keep on the move...I can't understand these arm-chair officers, fellas trying to fight a war from behind a desk, waving papers at the enemy, worrying about whether a mouse is gonna run up their pants leg.
Dax I don't know, General. If I had the choice between mice and Mausers, I think I'd take the mice every time.
Dax They're not cowards, so if some of them didn't leave the trenches, it must have been because it was impossible.
They were ordered to attack. It was their duty to obey that order. We can't leave it up to the men to decide when an order is possible or not. If it was impossible, the only proof of that would be their dead bodies lying in the bottom of the trenches. They are scum, Colonel, the whole rotten regiment; a pack of sneaking, whining, tail-dragging curs.
Dax Do you really believe that, sir?
Yes, I do. That's exactly what I believe. And what's more, it's an incontestable fact.
Dax Then why not shoot the entire regiment? I'm perfectly serious...If it's an example you want, then take me...One man will do as well as a hundred. The logical choice is the officer most responsible for the attack.
Dax Why didn't you leave the trenches?
Major Vignon was shot, and he fell back on top of me, sir, and knocked me cold.
Dax And were you lying unconscious in the trenches during the entire attack?
Yes, sir.
Judge
Have you any witnesses to that?
No, sir. I guess everybody was too busy to notice me. There were so many others lying dead anyway.
Judge
But you have no witnesses?
No, sir. I only have a rather large cut on my head, sir.
Judge
That could have been self-inflicted later.
Come, come, Colonel Dax. Don't overdo the surprise. You've been after the job from the start. We all know that, my boy.
Dax I may be many things, sir. But I am not your boy.
It would be a pity to lose your promotion before you get it - a promotion you have so very carefully planned for.
[Dax refuses the promotion, telling him what he can do with it]
Colonel Dax, you will apologize at once or you shall be placed under arrest!
Dax I apologize for not being entirely honest with you. I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. AND YOU CAN GO TO HELL BEFORE I APOLOGIZE TO YOU NOW OR EVER AGAIN.
Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist - and I pity you as I would the village idiot. We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong?
Dax Because you don't know the answer to that question, I pity you.
