Billy Budd

Lieutenant Seymour: They're talking about reform in the House of Commons. Captain Nathaniel Graveling: [of Rights of Man] You know what that means — it means their reforms are nearly a century overdue.

Billy Budd (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Captain Nathaniel Graveling: God go with you, Billy Budd, for it's a fact that you go with God! Billy Budd: [being pressed into service aboard the H.M.S. Avenger]: Right you are! Good-bye to you too ol' Rights of Man!

Billy Budd (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Billy Budd: [after witnessing a flogging] What was his crime? Dansker: God only knows young man. Billy Budd: You mean you don't know what he did? Dansker: Flogging. Its the only solution to every problem. I warrant even the culprit himself doesn't know. It was just his turn.

Billy Budd (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Jenkins: [as Billy eats his first shipboard meal] Like it Billy? Taste good? Billy Budd: It's hot and there's a lot of it. I like everything about it except the flavor.

Billy Budd (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Billy Budd: It's wrong to flog a man. I … d…d… [ pauses to hold back from stuttering] … It's against his being a man. Jenkins: Aye! Aye, lad — it is that! Dansker: Why do you stammer boy? Billy Budd: Because I sometimes can't find the words … for what I feel.

Billy Budd (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Claggert: [coming in after a "friendly fight" between Jenkins and Budd] None of you have anything to say? Dansker: It was nothing master-at-arms — a test of strength. Claggert: You'll need your strength for the fighting to come, boy. Aye Budd, you do indeed make friends quickly. That's a good quality to have.

Billy Budd (film), CC BY-SA 4.0