Sir Bruce Ismay Quotes in Titanic (1943)

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Sir Bruce Ismay Quotes:

  • Sir Bruce Ismay: [Addressing a meeting of White Star Line shareholders] Gentlemen... Dear shareholders... I called this meeting of the White Star Line to inform you of the following: we have built the "Titanic," the largest ship in the world. There have been unforeseen incidents and unexpected difficulties. Construction costs have escalated month after month. We were forced to stretch our finances to the extreme, exhaust our investors, and what's more, take out substantial loans. As a result... the share price is plummeting.

  • 1st Officer Petersen: [First Officer Peterson addresses President Ismay and Captain Smith about the dangerous course the ship is on] There are warnings about drift ice, and even reports of icebergs.

    Captain Edward J. Smith: What measures have you taken?

    1st Officer Petersen: I've changed course and reduced our speed.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Why? You'll certainly recognize an iceberg in plenty of time.

    1st Officer Petersen: Pardon me, but you're mistaken. Some icebergs are miles long, and 7/8 of them are underwater. There is the danger of colliding with the underwater mass.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Danger? That's ridiculous. The 'Titanic' is unsinkable.

    1st Officer Petersen: Proof of that has not yet been provided.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: [Getting impatient, he turns to address Capt. Smith] I demand you maintain direct course and full speed, Captain.

    Captain Edward J. Smith: That is a great responsibility for me.

    1st Officer Petersen: If I may be permitted to comment... such a responsibility is intolerable for any seaman.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: [Annoyed] What is that supposed to mean?

    1st Officer Petersen: Staying the course at full speed would endanger over 2,000 lives. In the event of tragedy, there isn't nearly enough room in the lifeboats for even a small portion of the passengers.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: [Clearly getting impatient with the First Officer] Enough of your pessimism.

    1st Officer Petersen: It's not pessimism. It's our duty to consider every possibility.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: That's *intentional* pessimism!

    1st Officer Petersen: What do you mean by that?

    Captain Edward J. Smith: Please, Herr Peterson...

    Sir Bruce Ismay: What I mean is that, as the only German officer on board, you have no interest in the 'Titanic' winning the Blue Ribbon.

    1st Officer Petersen: You will account for that remark at the appropriate time.

    1st Officer Petersen: [Turning to Capt. Smith] Captain, we await your orders on the bridge.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Captain, you know what the White Star Line expects of you.

    Captain Edward J. Smith: I know very well, Mr. President.

  • 1st Officer Petersen: [enters a room]

    Gloria: [behind a curtain] Is anybody there?

    1st Officer Petersen: Yes, Petersen. Please put on your life jackets and go on deck immediately.

    Gloria: Oh deck? Why?

    1st Officer Petersen: I'm not authorized to give passangers audditional information.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: [comes behind the curtain] One moment. But you will give ME information.

    1st Officer Petersen: To you, as the president responsible for this, I WILL give information: The Titanic is sinking.

    Gloria: The Titanic is sinking?

    Sir Bruce Ismay: What are you saying?

    1st Officer Petersen: The Titanic is sinking.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: [laughs]

    1st Officer Petersen: We collidition with an iceberg. The Titanic is ripped open from the bow till under the bridge.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Don't tell nonsense.

    1st Officer Petersen: You'll soon see, thatever it's nonsense. In jsut a few hours it's all over and a few thousand will be on the bottom because of you

    Gloria: But we have lifeboats.

    1st Officer Petersen: The lifeboats will hold almost a third of the passengers.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: I order you to secure a lifeboat for me immediately.

    1st Officer Petersen: First: You can't give me orders, Second: according to the law: women and children go first and third I'll give you the advice to go in you cabin and get your life jacket

    [about to leave the room]

    1st Officer Petersen: .

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Stay here!

    1st Officer Petersen: What else do you want?

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Please lets talk as man to man. Forget about the earlier momant this evening. I was nervous it was a momental excitement. I beg you: get me a lifeboat.

    1st Officer Petersen: YOU should have been got the lifeboats.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: No. Be reasonable. I'll give you five - I'll give you $10 000,-. Save me a place.

    1st Officer Petersen: [pushs Ismay away and leaves]

    Sir Bruce Ismay: We'll see if I'll come along.

  • Sir Bruce Ismay: The White Star Line has no need of officiers who sow only unrest among the passangers.

    1st Officer Petersen: And I have no need to serve on a ship that run not by sailors but by stock speculators.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: I forbit you to use that tone. Go in your stateroom. I'm relieving you of your duty.

    1st Officer Petersen: On board this ship you can neither relieve me of duty nor give me orders. To me you are nothing more than a passanger.

    [leaves]

  • Sigrid Olinsky: [Sigrid Olinsky and Petersen are in the billiard room, where Astor and Ismay are playing] Sir Bruce? I have a big favor to ask of you, one which you cannot refuse.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Then of course I won't.

    Sigrid Olinsky: I'd like to see the engine room.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: That's a wonderful idea, we will all come along!

    [to Astor]

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Would you be interested?

    John Jacob Astor: Of course, I'll just let my wife know.

    [leaves]

    Sigrid Olinsky: But we'll need an expert guide. Can't Offier Petersen come along? He's not on duty at the moment.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Of course he can.

    [to Petersen]

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Would you please show us the engine room?

    1st Officer Petersen: Mr. President, I'm not authorized to do this.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Then I give you full authorization.

    1st Officer Petersen: Mr. President, I am the First Officer, you cannot give me any authorization.

    Sir Bruce Ismay: I see.

    [to Steward Braun]

    Sir Bruce Ismay: Mr. Brown? Please call the captain for me.

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