Peter Ustinov quotes - page 3

Billy Budd: You didn't even hate him. I think that sometimes you hate yourself. I was thinking, sir, the nights are lonely. Perhaps I could talk with you between watches when you've nothing else to do. Claggert: Lonely. What do you know of loneliness? Billy Budd: Them's alone that want to be. Claggert: Nights are long. Conversation helps pass the time. Billy Budd: Can I talk to you again, then? It would mean a lot to me. Claggert: Perhaps to me, too. [His expression suddenly sours] Oh, no. You would charm me too, huh? Get away. (Peter Ustinov)
Claggert: We must serve the law, sir, or give up the right and privilege of service. It is only within that law that we may use our discretions according to our rank. Captain Vere: You're so intelligent and so lucid for the rank you hold, Master At Arms. Claggert: I thank you, sir. Captain Vere: Yes, that's no flattery, Mr. Claggart. It's a melancholy fact. It's sad to see such qualities of mind bent to such a sorry purpose. What's the reason for it? Claggert: I am what I am, sir. And what the world has made me. Captain Vere: The world? The world demands that behind every peacemaker there be the gun, the gallows, the jail. Do you think it will always be so? Claggert: I have no reason not to, sir. Captain Vere: You live without hope? Claggert: I live. Captain Vere: But remember, Mr. Claggart, that even the man who wields the whip cannot defy the code we must obey and not be broken by it. That will be all. View quote
Peter Ustinov
To all those who by accident or design, have not been included in this book. View quote
Peter Ustinov
I imagine hell like this: Italian punctuality, German humour and English wine. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Lieutenant Seymour: Wyatt, we do not deal with justice here, but with the law. Lieutenant Wyatt: Was not the one conceived to serve the other? View quote
Peter Ustinov
Courage is often lack of insight, whereas cowardice in many cases is based on good information. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Intelligent or not, we all make mistakes and perhaps the intelligent mistakes are the worst, because so much careful thought has gone into them. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Monica Seles: I'd hate to be next door to her on her wedding night. View quote
Peter Ustinov
The habit of religion is oppressive, an easy way out of thought. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Sex is a conversation carried out by other means. If you get on well out of bed, half the problems of bed are solved. View quote
Peter Ustinov
It is youth that has discovered love as a weapon. (Peter Ustinov)
Good-bye to you too ol' Rights of Man! View quote
Peter Ustinov
I'd rather be buried at sea than on the shore when I come to die. Will you stand by the plank, mates, so I can shake a friendly hand before I sink? View quote
Peter Ustinov
British education is probably the best in the world, if you can survive it. If you can't there is nothing left for you but the diplomatic corps. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Books, I don't know what you see in them. I can understand a person reading them, but I can't for the life of me see why people have to write them. View quote
Peter Ustinov
The French and the British are such good enemies that they can't resist being friends. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Men think about women. Women think about what men think about them. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Did you know that every two hours the nations of this world spend as much on armaments as they spend on the children of this world every year? View quote
Peter Ustinov
The only one who's always punctual is Death. View quote
Peter Ustinov
It is unfortunate for all that no moral issue has ever been clearer. Any attempt to plea-bargain with outlaws and renegades will only be at the expense of honor, decency and self-respect. View quote
Peter Ustinov
We have fought two wars to end war. In 1976, the nations of this world set aside the same amount of money for its starving children as the lavished on armaments every two hours. (Peter Ustinov)
They need enemies, not friends, to focus their two-dimensional ideas. Life for them is a simple tune, never an orchestration, or even a pleasant harmony. View quote
Peter Ustinov
All the hideously calculated hypocrisy of men when they commit a murder in the name of justice. View quote
Peter Ustinov
Laughter... the most civilized music in the world. View quote
Peter Ustinov
And here is the lesson I learned in the army. If you want to do a thing badly, you have to work at it as though you want to do it well. View quote
Peter Ustinov