Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls Quotes in The Little Princess (1939)

Sara Crewe: I thought you said you didn't have any more rooms.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: I didn't know then what a dear little girl was coming.

Sara Crewe: Why does that make more rooms, Daddy?

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Sara, I shall expect an explanation of this.

Sara Crewe: Yes, Miss Minchin. As soon as I can think of one.

Captain Reginald Crewe: Sara has no mother, and we've never been separated for more than a few days.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: How touching.

Captain Reginald Crewe: This is going to be very hard on her.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Have no fear, Captain Crewe. I'm a mother to all my little girls.

Mr. Barrows: Captain Crewe is dead. He was so reported in the list this morning. Moreover, he died bankrupt. His property and his mines were confiscated by the enemy.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: You mean to tell me that the child is penniless, and she's left on my hands with nothing?

Mr. Barrows: She's certainly left penniless, and she's certainly left on your hands. She hasn't a relative in the world that we know of.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: I'll throw her out on the streets.

Mr. Barrows: Do you think that wise, Miss Minchin? The reputation of your school, you know. That may not sound well to the parents of some of your other pupils. The child could be made to serve as your employee until her indebtedness is paid off.

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: Today, my good woman, the British army is behind me.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Hubert, that uniform! You're not going to war?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: Quite. To the very cannon's mouth, if need be!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: But why?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: Because, old girl, I'm fed to the teeth with your bullying. And your treatment of Rose and little Sara is the last straw! I prefer the less painful horrors of the battlefield.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Are you daring to criticize me?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: Astonishing, isn't it? But it proves that I'm competent to lead my men into the very jaws of death!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Sara, where have you been? You've been out, haven't you?

Sara Crewe: Yes, Miss Minchin.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: What do you mean by disobeying my orders?

Sara Crewe: I had to. I had to look for my father.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: This ridiculous search for your father! All this making believe and refusing to face facts, it's indecent. I've had enough of it. You must realize once and for all that your father is dead.

Sara Crewe: Don't you say that! He's not dead, he's not! And you can't stop me from looking for him, either.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: What happened to this room?

Sara Crewe: That's what we would like to know. I woke up this morning, and here everything was, even to the food and the fire.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Where did you get these things?

Sara Crewe: I don't know. It must be because I dreamed such a beautiful dream last night that it came true.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: These things are rare and costly. You stole them!

Sara Crewe: No, Miss Minchin, I didn't steal these things!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: I'll give you one more chance to tell me the truth!

Sara Crewe: But I am telling you the truth! They just - came!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: This is a matter for the police!

Colonel Gordon: Bertie, what do you think has happened? The princess found her father!

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: She found him!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls: Captain Crewe is alive?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: Of course he's alive! How could she have found him if he wasn't alive?

Sara Crewe: Oh, Mr. Bertie, I've found my father!

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin: Darling, I'm so glad!