Waterloo 1970 quotes

Duchess of Richmond

They're the salt of England, Arthur.

Duke of Wellington

Scum. Nothing but beggars and scoundrels, all of them. Gin is the spirit of their patriotism.

Duchess of Richmond

Yet you expect them to die for you?

Duke of Wellington

Um-hum.

Duchess of Richmond

Out of duty?

Duke of Wellington

Um-hum.

Duchess of Richmond

I doubt if even Bonaparte could draw men to him by duty.

Duke of Wellington

Oh, Boney's not a gentleman.

Duchess of Richmond

Arthur! What an Englishman you are.

Duke of Wellington

On the field of battle his hat is worth fifty thousand men; but he is not a gentleman.

Duke of Wellington

The whole line will advance.

Lord Uxbridge

In which direction your grace?

Duke of Wellington

Why, straight ahead to be sure.

King Louis XVIII

I know you loved this man.

Michel Ney

I did, once. But I promise you, that I will bring him back to Paris in an iron cage. [exits]

King Louis XVIII

How they exaggerate, these soldiers, "In an iron cage"? Nobody asked for that.

Lord Uxbridge

Sir.

Duke of Wellington

Ah, Uxbridge.

Lord Uxbridge

As I am second-in-command and in case anything should happen to you, what are your plans?

Duke of Wellington

To beat the French. [goes back to sleep, replacing the newspaper over his head]

Michel Ney

Wellington's on the run! I caught him at Quatre Bras! He's retreating!

Napoleon Bonaparte

If Wellington's retreating, what are you doing here?

Michel Ney

But, Sire...

Napoleon Bonaparte

If Wellington's retreating, what are you doing here? Why didn't you follow him? Why didn't you pursue?

Michel Ney

where are the reinforcements you promised me?

Napoleon Bonaparte

Don't you dare criticize me! Don't you dare! Don't you see if Wellington's free to choose his ground then everything I've won in this campaign you've lost!

Napoleon Bonaparte

Cross the river. Tomorrow we will dry our boots in Brussels.

Michel Ney

God willing, sire.

Napoleon Bonaparte

God? God has nothing to do with it.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Le Bedoyere, do you have any children?

Yes, sire; one son, very young, no taller than your boot.

Napoleon Bonaparte

And if he were with you, would you want him with you here today?

Yes, sire.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Yes, why?

So he could see you, sire.

Napoleon Bonaparte

See me? You know, I have a son. I'd give anything in the world to see him. I'd give my heart, I'd give my life, but not here. I wouldn't want him to witness this battle here today.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Well they've done it! The whole of Europe has declared war against me! Not against France, but against me.

They dignify you sire by making you a Nation!

Napoleon Bonaparte

Dignify? Dignify? They deny me the decency of law! They make it legal that any clown can kill me.

Michel Ney

Well we've fought with mud in our boots before!

Napoleon Bonaparte

Yes well, I'll discuss peace over Wellington's dead body, that's my peace table!

Napoleon Bonaparte

When I am dead and gone what will the world say of me?

They'll say that you extended the limits of glory, sire.

Napoleon Bonaparte

The limits of glory'; is that all I have to leave to my son, the 'limits of glory'?

William De Lancey

Shall I shut them up, Sir?

Duke of Wellington

No, no, indulge it . Anything that wastes time is good. Indulge it. Normally I don't like cheering, but there's always a time to cut cards with the Devil.

Sir, Napoleon has ventured within range. May I have your permission to try a shot?

Wellington

Certainly not! Leaders of armies have better things to do than fire at each other.

Uxbridge

By God sir, I've lost my leg.

Wellington

By God sir, so you have.

Officer

Sire! The Prussians are in the woods! Blucher is in the woods!

Napoleon

If I made one mistake in my life, I should have burned Berlin.

Blucher

Raise high ze black flags my children! No pity! No prisoners! I'll shoot anyone who has pity in him! Forward!

To my dear Prince Alexis... I did not "usurp" the crown. I found it, in the gutter, and I, I picked it up with my sword, and it was the people, Alexis, the people who put it on my head. He who saves a nation violates no law.

Field Marshall Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

By God, that man does war honor.