War & Peace (TV Series)

Moscow! (1973)

Bruno Barnabe: Gen. Mortier

Quotes 

• Napoleon : A city without inhabitants is a city that will not be supplied. Therefore the army will not be supplied.

  Gen. Mortier : We could forage, sire.

  Napoleon : Yes, we can forage. Though that exposes us to a species of war that will not be to our advantage. We must not forget. Moscow is a pledge. A pledge that I have grasped. To redeem it, Alexander will accept peace on my terms. Especially to redeem it whole.

• Napoleon : They are indeed simians. Barbarians. They value neither their lives nor their capital. Their minds are still in the Middle Ages. They're bought and sold like cattle, with the land. And yet they defend it with their lives. What have they got to fight for, Berthier?

  Marshal Berthier : Men will fight for their country, whether they like the way it's governed or not, sire.

  Napoleon : Well, if we have to drag them into the modern world by the scruff of their neck, we shall do it. Eh, Mortier?

  Gen. Mortier : Yes, sire.

  Napoleon : For that is why we are here. Make no mistake. And Alexander will see the sense of it. Of that I'm sure. There is no irreconcilable antagonism between him and me, between Russia and France. On the contrary. Whenever Russian meets Frenchman, there is a natural and immediate affinity.