Father Antoine Quotes in Quebec (1951)

Father Antoine: Blood! There's been a fight.

Mark Douglas: We won it too. The leaders are free. Aren't you glad?

Father Antoine: This unhappy thing you do has little connection with anything that is real to me. You're only postponing Canada's great days.

Mark Douglas: But I thought you were helping us?

Father Antoine: I won't betray you. But help? The only way I could help you would be to stop you. And I can't.

Mark Douglas: You don't want us to win?

Father Antoine: Everything you are fighting for is good, and will come. But great, good things must grow. Believe me, the liberties you seek will grow best within the framework of the government we have. I happen to believe the British Government is both wise and liberal.

Mark Douglas: We have as many British rebels as we have French.

Father Antoine: Do they think we can build our world by breaking it up into little pieces? First Canada from England, then Quebec from Montreal, then each village from its neighbour until you have a a hundred dismembered countries all at each others' throats. Our government ties two hemispheres into one; uniting many peoples into one great people, working together, at peace with each other. Can you tell me that is not for the glory of God?

Mark Douglas: Then why would by father and La Fleur...

Father Antoine: They are like all rebel leaders, they mistake their own bitterness and frustration and hatred for devotion to a cause.

Bill Carey: Surely you don't think it wrong, Father, for people who love each other to marry, and marry decently and live happily forever afterwards?

Father Antoine: I only think, monsieur, that you're marrying someone you love, but do not know - and will never know. Manon comes of a race older than ours, monsieur, a race whose heart is inscrutable and mysterious as its hats and its gods. You'll have only a half a bride, monsieur, eager and happy. The other half will always be far away from you. And I only fear that when sometimes this hidden one is revealed to you, you'll look with pain upon a stranger in your house, whatever your house be.

Bill Carey: Father... Father, help us.

Father Antoine: My son, she goes where there is no east or west. And she will be judged by one who alone knows how great or how little were her sins.

Paul Lavallier: Do you know a place where my friends can hide?

Father Antoine: [nodding his head] I've learned many things in this parrish. I know the underworld almost as well as I do the world above.