Dragon Seed (1944)

Walter Huston: Ling Tan

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ling Tan : [to Jade]  Remember, my child, that the woman is the root and the man is the tree. The tree grows only as high as the root is strong.

• Ling Tan : How can you dig such a thing without help? The earth is stubborn.

  Ling Tan's Wife : Heaven gave me the thought. Heaven will provide the help. The shovel is there.

• Ling Tan's Wife : [referring to a Japanese officer]  Why do you not defy him?

  Ling Tan : Alive I can hold my land. Dead I can only hold as much as I am buried in.

• Ling Tan : I have come to this. I will not grieve the day they tell me my third son is dead. He has become the sort of man I hate and fear most. Such men will not allow peace in the world. War springs from them as fire does from tinder, and it is their pleasure in life. Such men should die for the good of all.

• Ling Tan : [referring to Jade's son]  He has his eyes open. Make sure the one who teaches him has his eyes open.