Mr. Knightley Quotes in Emma (1996)

Mr. Knightley: I rode through the rain! I'd - I'd ride through worse than that if I could just hear your voice telling me that I might, at least, have some chance to win you.

Mr. Knightley: Emma, how could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How can you be so insolent to a woman of her age and situation? I had not thought it possible?

Emma: How could I help saying it? I daresay she did not understand me.

Mr. Knightley: Oh, I assure you, she felt your full meaning. She cannot stop mentioning it! I wish you could have heard her honour your forbearance in putting up with her when her society is so irksome.

Emma: I know there is no better creature in all the world, but you must allow that blended alongside of the good there is an equal among of ridiculous in her.

Mr. Knightley: Were she prosperous, or a woman equal to your age and situation, I would not quarrel with any liberties of manner. But she is poor! Even moreso than when she was born, and should she live to be an old lady, she will sink further still. Her situation being in every way below you should secure your compassion! Badly done, Emma. Badly done. She has watched you grow from a time when her notice of you was an honour to this, humbling her and laughing at her in front of people who would be guided by your treatment of her. It is not pleasant for me to say these things, but I must tell you the truth while I still can, proving myself your friend by the most faithful counsel, trusting that sometime you will do my faith in you greater justice that you do it now.

Mr. Knightley: Emma, you didn't ask me to contribute a riddle.

Emma Woodhouse: Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightley. I thought you overqualified.

Mr. Knightley: Marry me. Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend.

Mr. Knightley: Vanity working on a weak mind produces every kind of mischief.

Mr. Knightley: [about Emma's insult to Miss Bates] Badly done, Emma!

Mr. Knightley: I can think of nothing less appealing than an evening of watching other people dance. Go on!

[throwing stick for dog to fetch]

Emma Woodhouse: Then you shall have to dance yourself.

Mr. Knightley: I have no taste for it. I'd rather fetch that stick.

Emma Woodhouse: I'll try to remember to bring it to the ball.

Mr. Knightley: [pause] I just want to stay here where it's cozy.

Mr. Knightley: [Whilst standing in front of the enormous Donwell Abbey] I just want to stay here where it's cozy.

Mr. Knightley: You must be happy that she settled so well.

Emma Woodhouse: Indeed! One matter of joy in this is that I made the match myself. People said Mr. Weston would never marry again, and what a triumph!

Mr. Knightley: Triumph? You made a lucky guess!

Emma Woodhouse: Have you never known the triumph of a lucky guess? Had I not promoted Mr. Weston's visits and given encouragement where encouragement was needed, we might not have had a wedding today.

Mr. Woodhouse: Then please, my dear, encourage no one else. Marriage is so disrupting to one's social circle.

Emma: The most incomprehensible thing in the world to a man is a woman who rejects his offer of marriage.

Mr. Knightley: I do not comprehend it because it is madness.

[about Harriet's refusal of Robert Martin's offer of marriage]

Mr. Knightley: I hope you are wrong.

Emma: I could not be. I saw her answer.

Mr. Knightley: Emma

[looking at her suspiciously]

Mr. Knightley: ... you wrote her answer, didn't you?

Emma: If I did, I would have done no wrong. He is not Harriet's equal.

Mr. Knightley: I agree he is not her equal.

Emma: Good.

Mr. Knightley: He is her superior in sense and situation!

[Emma shoots a badly-aimed arrow]

Mr. Knightley: Try not to kill my dogs.

Mr. Knightley: Better be without sense than misapply it as you do.

Emma Woodhouse: How fascinating that any discordancy between us must always arise from *my* being wrong.

Mr. Knightley: Not fascinating, but true.

Mr. Knightley: Is it not a brother's job to find fault with his sister?

Emma: [worried that Mr. Knightley may be in love with Harriet Smith] Oh dear!

Mr. Knightley: What?

Emma: What? Oh...

[realizing her mistake]

Emma: Oh!

[uneasily]

Emma: Something about the deer we need for the... the... venison stew.

Mr. Knightley: Maybe it is our imperfections which make us so perfect for one another.

Mr. Knightley: Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!

Mr. Knightley: Emma, how could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How can you be so insolent to a woman of her age and situation? I had not thought it possible?

Emma: How could I help saying it? I daresay she did not understand me.

Mr. Knightley: Oh, I assure you, she felt your full meaning. She cannot stop mentioning it! I wish you could have heard her honor your forbearance in putting up with her when her society is so irksome.

Emma: I know there is no better creature in all the world, but you must allow that blended along side of the good there is an equal among of ridiculous in her.

Mr. Knightley: Were she prosperous, or a woman equal to your age and situation, I would not quarrel with any liberties of manner. But she is poor! Even more so than when she was born, and should she live to be an old lady, she will sink further still, her situation being in every way below you should secure your compassion! Badly done, Emma. Badly done. She has watched you grow from a time when her notice of you was an honor to this, humbling her and laughing at her in front of people who would be guided by your treatment of her. It is not pleasant for me to say these things, but I must tell you the truth while I still can, proving myself your friend by the most faithful counsel, trusting that some time you will do my faith in you greater justice that you do it now.

Mr. Knightley: The truest friend does not doubt... but hope.