Reverend Mother [singing]
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her, many a thing she ought to understand
...How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
Played by Peggy Wood 
The Sound of Music (1965) · 71 quotes
The Sound of Music (1965) · 71 quotes
Tied for 4th most-quoted character in The Sound of Music (1965): in 8 of its 71 quotes
Most scenes with: Maria (2)
I lift up mine eyes into the hills, from whence cometh my help...God be with you.
More lines from Reverend Mother
4 quotes Reverend Mother Reverend Mother It seems to be the will of God that you leave us...only for a while, Maria...Perhaps if you go out into the world for a time, knowing what we expect of you, you will have a chance to find out if you can expect it of yourself.
Reverend Mother You will be assuming the position of governess until September...to take care of seven children of Captain von Trapp, a retired officer of the Imperial Navy, a fine man and a brave one. His wife died several years ago, leaving him alone with the children. Now I understand he's had a most difficult time managing to keep a governess there.
Reverend Mother [singing]
Climb ev'ry mountain, search high and low.
Follow ev'ry byway, every path you know.
Climb ev'ry mountain, ford every stream.
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream.
A dream that will need all the love you can give
Every day of your life for as long as you live...
Scenes with Reverend Mother
3 scenes
I just couldn't help myself. The gates were open and the hills were beckoning...I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel.
Reverend Mother : Some people would call that honesty.
Oh, but it's terrible, Reverend Mother.
I left...I was frightened...I was confused, I felt, I've never felt that way before. I couldn't stay. I knew that here I'd be away from it. I'd be safe...I can't face him again...Oh, there were times when we would look at each other. Oh Mother, I could hardly breathe...That's what's been torturing me. I was there on God's errand. To have asked for his love would have been wrong. I couldn't stay, I just couldn't. I'm ready at this moment to take my vows. Please help me.
Reverend Mother Maria, the love of a man and a woman is holy too. You have a great capacity to love. What you must find out is how God wants you to spend your love.
But I pledged my life to God. I pledged my life to his service.
Reverend Mother My daughter, if you love this man, it doesn't mean you love God less. No, you must find out and you must go back.
Oh, Mother, you can't ask me to do that. Please let me stay, I beg of you.
Reverend Mother Maria, these walls were not built to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live.
Sister Margaretta
Reverend Mother, I have sinned.
Sister Berthe I, too, Reverend Mother.
Reverend Mother What is this sin, my children?
[the nuns look at each other, then reveal from under their robes the distributor and coil they have removed from the Germans' cars]
