Quotes from Paths Of Glory (1957)
General Mireau : If those little sweethearts won't face German bullets, they'll face French ones!
General Mireau : They're scum, Colonel ... the whole rotten regiment.
A pack of sneaking, whining, tail-dragging curs.
Colonel Dax : Gentlemen of the court, there are times when I'm ashamed to be a member of the human race and this is one such occasion.
It's impossible for me to summarise the case for the defence since the court never allowed me a reasonable opportunity to present my case.
French Official : Are you protesting the authenticity of this court?
Colonel Dax : [Deep breath] Yes, sir.
I protest against being prevented from introducing evidence which I consider vital to the defence.
The prosecution presented no witnesses.
There has never been a written indictment of charges made against the defendants.
And lastly I protest against the fact that no stenographic records of this trial have been kept.
[Pauses, walks left, stands in front of the prosecuting attorney] The attack yesterday was no stain on the honour of France.
And certainly no disgrace to the fighting men of this nation.
But this court martial is such a stain - and such a disgrace.
The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice.
Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty would be a crime to haunt each of you to the day you die.
I can't believe that the noblest gatepost(*) of man - his compassion for another can be completely dead here.
Therefore I humbly beg you.
Show mercy to these men.
French Official : The accused will be escorted back to the guard room.
The hearing is closed.
The court will now retire to delubriate(*).
Corporal Paris : See that cockroach?
Tomorrow morning we'll be dead and it'll be alive.
It'll have more contact with my wife and child than I will.
I'll be nothing - and it'll be alive.
Private Ferol : [Slaps hand down on table] Now you got the edge on him.
General Broulard : Colonel Dax, are you trying to blackmail me!
Colonel Dax : Sir, that's an ugly word, but you are in a difficult position.
Colonel Dax : Sir, would you like me to suggest what you can do with that promotion.
General Broulard : Colonel Dax!
You will apologise at once or I shall have you placed under arrest at once!
Colonel Dax : I apologise for not being entirely honest with you.
I apologise for not revealing my true feelings.
I apologise, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man - and you can go to hell before I apologise to you now or ever again!
General Broulard : Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me.
You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality.
You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command.
You're an idealist - and I pity you as I would the village idiot.
We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win.
Those men didn't fight, so they were shot.
You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them.
Wherein have I done wrong?
Colonel Dax : Because you don't know the answer to that question, I pity you.
'(*)' 'noblest gatepost' & 'delubriate' are uncertain quotes
Sound clip from this last quote - .wav format, 219 K
Paths of Glory
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