Michael Collins

Eamon de Valera: Wait, Michael, wait... Michael Collins: Till when? Eamon de Valera: Until the next time. Harry Boland: What happens next time? Michael Collins: We won't play by their rules, Harry. We'll invent our own.

Michael Collins (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Cathal Brugha: The Minister is as usual exceeding his brief! Michael Collins: And what is my brief, Cathal? Cathal Brugha: Intelligence. Michael Collins: Bullshit! I'm Minister for Gun-Running, Daylight Robbery, and General Mayhem!

Michael Collins (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Harry Boland: Oh, did you hear there's a butterfly been seen in West Clare? Its wings are green, white, and yellow. Michael Collins: Oh, God! Harry Boland: The lads say it's a sign. Michael Collins: Sign? My... fuck it! Harry Boland: I'm tellin' ya. Michael Collins: You know the problem with butterflies? Kitty Kiernan: What's that? Michael Collins: They only last one day. Harry Boland: Aye, but what a day, Mick!

Michael Collins (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Eamon de Valera: If we are to negotiate as a legitimate government, our armed forces must act like a legitimate army. Michael Collins: What, exactly, do you mean, Dev? Eamon de Valera: I mean large scale engagements. Michael Collins: You mean, like, in 1916? The great, heroic, ethical failure. All marchin' in step towards slaughter. Why don't we save them all the bother and blow our own brains out?! Cathal Brugha: How dare you! Michael Collins: How do you think we even got them to this point? Where they'll even consider talking? We brought them to their knees the only way we could! Eamon de Valera: They call us murderers. Michael Collins: War is murder! Sheer bloody murder! If you'd been here for the past year, you'd know that!

Michael Collins (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Eamon de Valera: You published the terms without MY agreement! Michael Collins: They were the best we could get. Eamon de Valera: In your opinion! Michael Collins: And what's more, Dev, you sent me there because you knew they were best we could get. Eamon de Valera: That is idle speculation. Eamon de Valera: What would you know about peace? Michael Collins: When I agreed to go to London, you said we could negotiate on behalf of the Irish people and our government, the Dáil. If they accept it, I accept it; if they reject it I reject it. And I want to know you'll do the same.

Michael Collins (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

British officer: You're seven minutes late, Mr. Collins. Michael Collins: You've kept us waiting seven hundred years. You can have your seven minutes.

Michael Collins (film), CC BY-SA 4.0