Eagle in a Cage (1972)

Kenneth Haigh: Napoleon Bonaparte

Quotes 

• Napoleon Bonaparte : The Pope considered me despicable, yet he crossed the Alps to anoint me. The King of Austria called me a Corsican gutter rat, and gave me his daughter as a bride. Anyone can make use of a friend. The trick is to use one's enemies.

• Betty Balcombe : Papa is sending me to school in London. God, how I longed for it! Begged him! He wouldn't hear of it.

  Napoleon Bonaparte : How did you manage?

  Betty Balcombe : I found a man I could use: I told him I was in love with you. He can't wait to pack me off.

• Napoleon Bonaparte : When I go into battle, I never bother to take food for all my troops. It stands to reason some of them will be killed. Why bother hauling provisions for corpses?

• Barry O'Meara : Apart from my duties as your physician, I'm required to report daily that I've seen you as a precaution against escape. I agreed to obey that order on the condition that I could inform you of it. I'm not a spy.

  Napoleon Bonaparte : I have nothing against spies.

• Napoleon Bonaparte : I'd like a bible.

  Sir Hudson Lowe : It never occurred to me that you were religious.

  Napoleon Bonaparte : I only read the love poetry. And the battle scenes. You can learn a lot from those Old Testament boys.

• Napoleon Bonaparte : Power is my art. I love it. The way a musician loves his instrument.

• Napoleon Bonaparte : You think there's always a choice between good and evil? Sometimes there's only a choice between horrors.

• Sir Hudson Lowe : You are free to move anywhere on the island, provided you are accompanied by an English officer.

  Napoleon Bonaparte : I am not your prisoner.

  Sir Hudson Lowe : You held a great deal of power for a very long time. I expect it's not easy to accept someone else in command. Nevertheless, that is the fact of the matter.

• Napoleon Bonaparte : There are only two kinds of men in the world: those who will use you, and those you can use.