Becket

King Henry II: You know, when I took you into my service, everyone predicted you would put a knife in my back. Thomas a Becket: Did you believe them? King Henry II: No. I assured them that you were a man of honor. And a collaborator. Thomas a Becket: That was accurate of you. King Henry II: How do you combine the two? Thomas a Becket: My Lord? King Henry II: Honor... and collaboration. Thomas a Becket: .... I don't try. I love good living, and good living is Norman. I love life, and a Saxon's only birthright is to be slaughtered. One collaborates to live. King Henry II: And honor? Thomas a Becket: Honor is a concern of the living. One can't very well be concerned about it once one's dead. King Henry II: You're too clever for me, Thomas. But I know there's something not quite right about your reasoning. Thomas a Becket: Honor is a private matter within. It's an idea, and every man has his own version of it. King Henry II: How gracefully you tell your King to mind his own business.

Becket (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Thomas a Becket: Tonight, you can do me the honor of christening my forks. King Henry II: Forks? Thomas a Becket: Yes, from Florence. New little invention. It's for pronging meat and carrying it to the mouth. It saves you dirtying your fingers. King Henry II: But then you dirty the fork. Thomas a Becket: Yes, but it's washable. King Henry II: So are your fingers. I don't see the point. Thomas a Becket: Well, it hasn't any, practically speaking. But it's refined, it's subtle, it's very... un-Norman. [Henry laughs at that.]

Becket (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Thomas a Becket: Meanwhile, we have some business to discuss. I've been studying the dispatches from England. King Henry II: You love work, don't you? If you love anything. Thomas a Becket: I love doing what I have to do and doing it well. King Henry II: You'd be as efficient against me as for me, wouldn't you? Thomas a Becket: If Fate had arranged it that way. King Henry II: So what in most people is morality, in you, it's just an exercise in... what's the word? Thomas a Becket: Aesthetics. King Henry II: Yes, that's the word. Always "aesthetics."

Becket (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

King Henry II: But what will God say if I attack His Church? After all, they're His bishops. Thomas a Becket: We must manage the Church. One can always come to a sensible little arrangement with God. King Henry II: [laughs] Becket,... you're a monster. Thomas a Becket: [chuckles] You flatter me, My Lord. But please, my Lord, dress quickly. It's, uh... it's inelegant for conquerers to be late. King Henry II: [laughs even harder] You're a MONSTER!

Becket (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

King Henry II: Am I the strongest or am I not? Thomas a Becket: You are today, but one must never drive one's enemy to despair; it makes him strong. Gentleness is better politics, it saps virility. A good occupational force must never crush. It must corrupt.

Becket (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Thomas a Becket: Well, now. Wouldn't you rather have a Saxon Archbishop than a Norman one? [Brother John doesn't answer] I hope I won't regret sending for you. Brother John: Why did you? Thomas a Becket: I'm not sure. Perhaps in a young, intemperate way, yours is a voice that is good for me to hear. Brother John: Then why-- Thomas a Becket: But PLEASE. Not too often, and not too loud, Brother John. Brother John: You betrayed your Saxon race. Now you betray God. Thomas a Becket: Perhaps you will succeed in teaching me humility. It's a virtue I've never really mastered.

Becket (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0