Memorable quotes for
The Wind and the Lion (1975) More at IMDbPro »

Raisuli: This is the Rif. I am Mulay Ahmed Muhamed Raisuli the Magnificent, sherif of the Riffian Berbers. I am the true defender of the faithful and the blood of the prophet runs in me and I am but a servant of his will. You have nothing to say?
Eden: It is not my intention to encourage braggers.
Raisuli: Your shell is strong like a turtle's, but brittle.
Eden: Your tongue is clever and fast. Be careful not to trip over it.
Raisuli: You are a great deal of trouble.
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Eden: Why would anyone want to cut out a man's tongue?
Raisuli: Perhaps the previous owner had nothing pleasant to say.
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Raisuli: I am Raisuli. Do not laugh at me again.
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Raisuli: Ignorance is a steep hill with perilous rocks at the bottom.
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Raisuli: It is the wind that passes but the sea remains.
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Raisuli: The lion takes long strides but the path is worn smooth by pygmy armies.
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[last lines]
Sherif of Wazan: Great Raisuli, we have lost everything. All is drifting on the wind as you said. We have lost everything.
Raisuli: Sherif, is there not one thing in your life that is worth losing everything for?
[they both begin to laugh]
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John Hay: Theodore! You are dangerous. You might even shoot somebody - accidentally I mean.
Theodore Roosevelt: John, I'd never shoot anyone accidentally. I need their votes.
John Hay: Madness!
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Raisuli: To Theodore Roosevelt - you are like the Wind and I like the Lion. You form the Tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the Ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours. - Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates.
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Capt. Jerome, USMC: Captain Jerome, United States Marine Corps, and you are my prisoner, sir.
The Bashaw of Tangier: You are a very dangerous man, Captain, and your President Roosevelt is mad.
Capt. Jerome, USMC: Yes, sir!
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Theodore Roosevelt: America wants Pedicaris alive, or Raisuli dead!
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Theodore Roosevelt: What do I want? I want respect! Respect for human life and respect for American property! And I'm going to send the Atlantic Squadron to Morocco to get that respect.
John Hay: That's illegal.
Theodore Roosevelt: Why spoil the beauty of the thing with legality?
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Capt. Jerome, USMC: It seems quite obvious, I would think, sir - we must seize the government and make our own negotiations.
Gummere: [incredulous] Seize the government?
Capt. Jerome, USMC: At BAYONET point!
Gummere: [snidely; to Dreighton] Well, I certainly would like to see that old son-of-a-bitch at bayonet point, huh?
[chuckles]
Gummere: But it's ridiculous; it's outrageous, it's lunatic!
Adm. Chadwick: Yes, isn't it though? I think Teddy should love it!
Gummere: But, what about the French, the Germans - the British? Why we're in the shadow of Gibraltar!
Adm. Chadwick: [slams his hand on table and stands up] DAMN THE LEGATIONS!
Gummere: [uneasily] You realize, of course, that if we fail in even the slightest way, we'll all be killed?
Adm. Chadwick: Yes, and the whole world will probably go to war.
Capt. Jerome, USMC: Gentlemen, if we fail and are killed, I certainly hope the world DOES go to war!
[raises glass as a toast]
Adm. Chadwick: The world at war!
Gummere: A world war? Now THAT would be something to go out on...
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Eden: [to Raisuli] Now I don't know who you are, or what you want with us, but if any of your men should lay a hand on me, I shall try with all the strength in me to kill you, and with my last breath I shall curse you to God! GOD WILL LISTEN!
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Eden: [playing chess with Raisuli] You are in a lot of trouble! You should never have moved that knight or kidnapped me - both will see you undone.
Raisuli: It is not I who determine the outcome of these events - it is the will of Allah.
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Eden: And this is your way? Abducting women and children?
Raisuli: I prefer to fight the European armies, but they do not fight as men - they fight as dogs! Men prefer to fight with swords, so they can see each other's eyes! Sometimes, this is not possible. Then, they fight with rifles. The Europeans have guns that fire many times promiscuously and rend the Earth. There is no honor in this - nothing is decided from this. Therefore, I take women and children when it pleases me!
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Gummere: Have you ever heard of the "Big Stick", Bashaw?
The Bashaw of Tangier: Do not threaten me, Mr. Gummere. I have been threatened by the French, the Germans, the English... I have been threatened by..."experts", Mr. Gummere! And yet Morocco is still the only sovereign Muslim throne west of Constantinople.
Gummere: Yes, but it is shaky.
The Bashaw of Tangier: Yes, we have French infantry and German cavalry. Our currency is Spanish. But my nephew is the Sultan of Morocco; and it is, as it shall be.
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Vice Consul Richard: [to Bashaw] Now, listen here! We represent a modern power! We are talking about Marines, battleships, big guns - we are not fooling about!
Gummere: Richard, we are not here to make threats, only entreaties...
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Gummere: You and I are both old men and we've seen these disasters come and go. And our job is to make this one go - and make it look good!
[winks]
Adm. Chadwick: I must remind you, sir, that I was at Santiago Bay when this President was running up San Juan Hill. And I'm afraid we'll have to do more than just "look good" this time!
Gummere: Well, what did you, uh, have in mind exactly?
Capt. Jerome, USMC: [stands, smiling] Military intervention!
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William Pedecaris: [on Raisuli] He has the way about him, doesn't he? He sure has the way...
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Gummere: [watching the Marines marching through Tangier] I don't think the French and Germans are gonna like this. Too early in the morning for rattling sabers.
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Theodore Roosevelt: The American grizzly is a symbol of the American character: strength, intelligence, ferocity. Maybe a little blind and reckless at times... but courageous beyond all doubt. And one other trait that goes with all previous.
2nd Reporter: And that, Mr. President?
Theodore Roosevelt: Loneliness. The American grizzly lives out his life alone. Indomitable, unconquered - but always alone. He has no real allies, only enemies, but none of them as great as he.
2nd Reporter: And you feel this might be an American trait?
Theodore Roosevelt: Certainly. The world will never love us. They respect us - they might even grow to fear us. But they will never love us, for we have too much audacity! And, we're a bit blind and reckless at times too.
2nd Reporter: Are you perhaps referring to the situation in Morocco and the Panama Canal.
Theodore Roosevelt: If you say so... The American grizzly embodies the spirit of America. He should be our symbol! Not that ridiculous eagle - he's nothing more than a dandified vulture.
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John Hay: [to Ambassador] You, uh, likey knifey? Likey forkey? Splendid.
[to Roosevelt]
John Hay: And now, Mr. President, blow!
[Roosevelt blows out his birthday cake, and the General stands for a toast]
Japanese General: May the breath of Theodore Roosevelt be like the wind he has brought across the Pacific: Strong, but an American wind, marked also by its warmth.
[to Hay]
Japanese General: You, uh, likey speechy?
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John Hay: Not having any, Mr. President?
Theodore Roosevelt: Oh, no cake for me, John, birthday or no. Have to remain fit and trim, vigorous and active. After all, this Raisuli fellow is reputed to be over fifty and still a formidable brigand.
John Hay: Well, you might well make a formidable brigand yourself. You've made a good start in life, and we all have high hopes for you - when you grow up! And now I shall have some of your cake. "Let them eat cake" - thank you!
Theodore Roosevelt: Not good for you, John - neither are those cigars.
John Hay: At my age, I can afford it.
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John Hay: Gentlemen, the Presidency was never won by a Vice-President filling out his fallen predecessor's term of office. Now, that may not obtain in this instance but...
Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge: The only thing people will remember about McKinley is that he had the good sense to get himself shot! Teddy's the most popular president since Washington.
Elihu Root, Secretary of War: Why drag in Washington?
John Hay: Ah, you know it and I know it, but that damned cowboy doesn't know it. What he wants is some issue to hang his campaign on - something to arouse the populace.
Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge: Cavalry charge?
John Hay: So to speak.
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Theodore Roosevelt: [to Hay, while boxing] You know as well as I do that we can't have Arab desperadoes running around kidnapping American citizens. If I had my way, I'd go in there with a couple of Winchesters, a batallion of Marines - but, I can't do that, can I?
John Hay: [breaks up Roosevelt and his opponent] No.
Theodore Roosevelt: Has this Raspuli-?
John Hay: Raisuli.
Theodore Roosevelt: Raspuli, Raisuli, whatever - has he made any terms?
John Hay: No.
Theodore Roosevelt: Good - that gives us an excuse!
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John Hay: [on Raisuli] He kidnapped a British consul once, but they became friends and he sent him back - he spat on the blood money.
Theodore Roosevelt: Spat on it?
John Hay: Yes. There've been others, though - Spanish and French emissaries.
Theodore Roosevelt: Did he send them back too?
John Hay: Parts of them.
Theodore Roosevelt: Parts of them? Obviously he has NO RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE!
[said as he KO's his opponent]
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Theodore Roosevelt: Gentlemen, nothing in this world is certain - absolutely nothing. The fate of the nation will be decided by the American people in November, and the fate of Morocco will be decided tomorrow by me. And now, if you don't mind, I'd just like to be alone with my bear!
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Theodore Roosevelt: [examining a rifle he has received for his birthday] You can be sure that Raisuli fellow has a rifle that fits him. Those people know the value of a good weapon. The rifle is the very soul of the Arab.
President's Aide: Raisuli's a Berber, Mr. President.
Theodore Roosevelt: It goes double for Berbers!
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Raisuli: [during the final battle, Eden finds him tied upside down] Ah, Mrs. Perdicaris! The Baraka has not deserted me!
[a shot strikes the wall next to him]
Raisuli: Cut me down quick before it does.
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John Hay: [on the bear Roosevelt has shot] I trust he was a Democrat.
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[first lines]
Eden: Don't you agree that the most important part of the meal is the wine? Everything must follow the wine. And in this case, I should favor a Red Bordeaux.
Sir Joseph: A Red Bordeaux at lunch? Your late husband would never have approved.
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Eden: Do you pray often?
Raisuli: I pray to Mecca five times a day.
Eden: Is that so? I wonder how you find time, when you are so busy cutting off men's heads and kidnapping women and children!
Raisuli: If I miss the morning prayer, I pray twice in the afternoon. Allah is very understanding!
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Sherif of Wazan: [on the hostage exchange with the Europeans] I will go. You need not risk yourself any further.
Raisuli: What does my life matter? I've nothing else to do.
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William Pedecaris: What are they singing?
Raisuli: They are singing songs to God.
William Pedecaris: Why are you not singing?
Raisuli: I am the sultan. They do the singing.
William Pedecaris: That is ridiculous.
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Raisuli: [concerning the two out of four men he has recently beheaded] A barbarous man would've killed them all.
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John Hay: [read as voice-over as the President poses for a photograph, his hand on a globe] Secretary of State to the President. I regret to inform you that I have received the following dispatch from Samuel Gummere, United States Consul-General, Tangier, Morocco. On October 15th, Mrs. Eden Perdicaris and her children were kidnapped from their residence in Tangier after the brutal murder of her servants and a guest, Sir Joshua Kenyon Smith, a British subject. This act of barbarous criminality appears perpetrated by Mulai el-Raisuli, Sheriff of the Riffian Berbers and the last of the Barbary Pirates. The British minister and myself concur that there exist alarming prospects of danger for all foreigners in Morocco. Request warships.
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William Pedecaris: He's got a knife in his back!
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Eden: [during the shootout between Joseph and Raisuli's men] Joseph, over there!
Sir Joseph: Get down, Eden!
[shoots a brigand, and aims at another, but finds he's out of ammunition]
Sir Joseph: Damn.
[is run down by another brigand]
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The Sultan: [to Dreighton] You cannot speak to the Defender of the Faithful in this manner!
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John Hay: [Gun shot] "He's gone cowboy again. Let me deal with him... or try. Theodore, what are you doing? Isn't that the Czar?"
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[repeated line]
Raisuli: Mrs. Pedecaris, you are a lot of trouble!
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