Brother John Quotes in Becket (1964)

Brother John: I don't mind if I am just a grain of sand in a machine. Because I know by putting more and more grains of sand in a machine, one day it'll come grinding to a stop.

Thomas a Becket: And on that day - what then?

Brother John: Well, we'll have a fine, new, well-oiled machine in the place of the old one. And this time we'll put the Normans into it instead. That's what justice means, doesn't it?

Brother John: You betrayed your Saxon race, now you betray God.

Thomas a Becket: Perhaps you will succeed in teaching me humility, it's a virtue I've never really mastered.

Brother John: Let me give you some advise. The creatures you are going to teach, if that is the word, are not to be confused with intelligent human beings. The only thing these boys understand is strength. Should you fail to employ that strength they'll eat you alive.

William Franklin: Thank you for the advice, brother. I think I will manage.