"Time is the enemy."
1917 - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
I hoped today might be a good day. Hope is a dangerous thing.
— Colonel Mackenzie
Context:
Spoken to Schofield in the command dugout after Mackenzie has read the letter from General Erinmore and is forced to call off the attack he was moments away from launching.
Meaning:
This quote encapsulates the deep-seated cynicism and weariness of the officers who have been fighting a war of attrition. Mackenzie's hope for a "good day" is a hope for victory, and he sees the order to stand down as a crushing blow to that hope, revealing the psychological toll of the conflict.
There is only one way this war ends. Last man standing.
— Colonel Mackenzie
Context:
Said to Schofield in the dugout, immediately following his reluctant order to halt the attack. It is his final, bleak assessment of the war's nature before dismissing Schofield.
Meaning:
This line conveys the grim, nihilistic reality of World War I as perceived by those in command. It dismisses any notion of a strategic or noble victory, reducing the entire conflict to a brutal battle of sheer endurance and annihilation.
Tell her I wasn't scared.
— Lance Corporal Blake
Context:
Blake says this to Schofield as he lies dying after being stabbed by the German pilot they tried to save from a burning plane.
Meaning:
These are Blake's last words, a poignant and heartbreaking request. It is a final act of love for his mother, an attempt to protect her from the horror of his death and preserve an image of his bravery, whether true or not.
Some men just want the fight.
— Captain Smith
Context:
Captain Smith says this to Schofield as he drops him off near the front line, advising him to have witnesses when he delivers his message to Colonel Mackenzie to ensure the order is followed.
Meaning:
This is a piece of sage, cynical advice that warns Schofield about the internal politics and differing mentalities within the army. It suggests that not all officers are concerned with saving lives and that some are driven by a desire for glory or conflict itself.