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Inherit the Wind - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind.
— Matthew Harrison Brady
Context:
Brady uses it to scold Reverend Brown for publicly damning his own daughter to hell, foreshadowing Brady's own fate.
Meaning:
The titular quote from Proverbs serves as a warning against dogmatic fanaticism that alienates loved ones and destroys communities, leaving the instigator with nothing.
I do not think about things that... I do not think about!
— Matthew Harrison Brady
Context:
Spoken during the climax of Drummond's intense cross-examination of Brady on the witness stand, when Drummond presses him on matters outside the Bible.
Meaning:
This line perfectly encapsulates the willful ignorance and closed-mindedness of fundamentalist dogma, highlighting the refusal to entertain alternative perspectives.
It is the duty of a newspaper to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
— E.K. Hornbeck
Context:
Hornbeck says this to Brady upon arriving in Hillsboro, establishing his antagonistic and cynical role as a reporter.
Meaning:
A classic summary of the role of a free press in a democratic society, asserting that journalism must challenge the status quo and powerful institutions.
Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.
— Henry Drummond
Context:
Drummond says this to Cates to explain why they cannot simply back down and plead guilty, as the battle for human freedom is ongoing.
Meaning:
A poignant warning that the suppression of thought does not end with one trial; if unchecked, bigotry will continually seek out new targets to destroy.
All motion is relative, Matt. Maybe it's you who've moved away by standing still.
— Henry Drummond
Context:
Drummond says this privately to Brady when the prosecutor asks why Drummond has moved so far away from him over the years.
Meaning:
A brilliant reflection on progress and conservatism. Drummond points out that refusing to evolve intellectually is, in itself, an act of abandoning the progressive ideals they once shared.