Quotes

Dialogue

Napoleon Bonaparte: Well they've done it! The whole of Europe has declared war against me! Not against France, but against me. Le Bedoyere: They dignify you sire by making you a Nation! Napoleon Bonaparte: [laughing] 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!

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

Lord Uxbridge: [clears throat] Sir. Duke of Wellington: [removing his copy of The Times from over his face] 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: [brightly] To beat the French. [goes back to sleep, replacing the newspaper over his head]

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

Duchess of Richmond: [referring to the English troops] 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.

Dialogue

Napoleon Bonaparte: When I am dead and gone what will the world say of me? Le Bedoyere: 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'?

Dialogue

Napoleon Bonaparte: Le Bedoyere, do you have any children? Le Bedoyere: 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? Le Bedoyere: Yes, sire. Napoleon Bonaparte: Yes, why? Le Bedoyere: 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.

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

Duke of Wellington: The whole line will advance. Lord Uxbridge: In which direction your grace? Duke of Wellington: Why, straight ahead to be sure.

Dialogue

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: [Raises voice] where are the reinforcements you promised me? Napoleon Bonaparte: [shouting] 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!

Dialogue

British artillery commander: Sir, Napoleon has ventured within range. May I have your permission to try a shot? Duke of Wellington: [stares at him a moment] Certainly not! Leaders of armies have better things to do than fire at each other.

Dialogue

Lord Uxbridge: By God sir, I've lost my leg. Duke of Wellington: By God sir, so you have.

Dialogue

Officer: Sire! The Prussians are in the woods! Blücher is in the woods! Napoleon Bonaparte: If I made one mistake in my life, I should have burned Berlin.