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Mrs. Moore: My dear, life rarely gives us what we want at the moment we consider appropriate. Adventures do occur, but not punctually.
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Mrs. Moore: God has put us on earth to love and help our fellow men.
Ronny: Yes, mother.
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Richard Fielding: [on the glasses found on Aziz after the latter's arrest] If he had assaulted her he'd scarcely bring the evidence back with him.
McBryde: Doesn't surprise me.
Richard Fielding: I don't follow.
McBryde: When you think of crime, you think of English crime. The psychology's different here.
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McBryde: [at the trial] Before we begin, I'd like to state what I believe to be a universal truth: the darker races are attracted to the fairer, but not vice-versa.
Advocate Amrit Rao: Even when the lady is LESS attractive than the gentleman?
[court breaks out in laughter]
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Das: [Ali is carrying on during the trial] Please, this is no way to defend your case!
Ali: I am not defending a case - and YOU are not trying one! We are both slaves!
Das: Mr. Mahmoud Ali, if you don't calm down, I will have to exercise my authority.
Ali: Do so! This trial is a farce!
[throws papers off the desk]
Ali: I'm going! I've ruined my career!
[to Aziz]
Ali: Farewell my friend!
Ali: Mrs. Moore! Where are you, Mrs. Moore?
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Ali: How is Britain justified in holding India?
Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: Unfair political question!
Richard Fielding: No, no! Well, personally, I'm here because I need a job.
Ali: Qualified Indians also need jobs!
Richard Fielding: I got here first.
[laughter]
Richard Fielding: Well, I like it here and that's my excuse.
Advocate Hamidullah: And those Englishmen who do not like it here?
Richard Fielding: Chuck 'em out.
[laughter]
Ali: Indians are also saying that.
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Major Callendar: [to Ronny, on Mrs. Moore] She's old - we musn't forget that. Old people never take things as one expects.
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Turton: [in a club meeting] There is a certain member here present who is known to be in contact with the defense. One can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds - at least not in this country!
Richard Fielding: I'd like to say something.
Turton: Please do.
Richard Fielding: I believe Dr. Aziz is innocent. I will await the verdict of the jury. If he is found guilty, I will resign my post and leave India. I resign from the Club now!
[exits]
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Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: [to Ali and Hamidullah when Fielding visits] No, he does not need THREE chairs! He is NOT THREE Englishmen!
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Ronny: [on Aziz] He was dressed in his Sunday best, and his back collar stud was out. And there you have the Indian all over.
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Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: You shouldn't walk alone, Mrs. Moore. There are bad characters about, and leopards may come down from the Marabar Hills - snakes also!
Mrs. Moore: You walk alone.
Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: I am used to it.
Mrs. Moore: Used to snakes?
Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: I'm a doctor - they dare not bite me!
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Adela Quested: I do so hate mysteries.
Richard Fielding: We English do.
Mrs. Moore: I rather like mysteries - but I rather dislike muddles.
Richard Fielding: A mystery is only a high-sounding term for a muddle. Me and the Professor know that India is a muddle.
Professor Godbhole: Agreed, I am sorry to say.
-
Indian crowd member #1: [pointing at Mr. Fielding and Adela leaving in the carriage] That was Mr. Fielding!
Indian crowd member #2: And Mrs. Moore!
Entire Indian crowd: Mrs. Moore! Mrs. Moore! Mrs. Moore!...
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Professor Godbhole: Nothing you do will change the outcome.
Richard Fielding: So "Do nothing!" Is that your philosophy?
Professor Godbhole: My philosophy is you can do what you like... but the outcome will be the same.
-
Mrs. Moore: This is one of the most un-natural affairs I have ever attended!
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Mrs. Moore: Sometimes I think too much fuss is made about marriage. Century after century of carnal embracement, and we're still no nearer understanding one another. Goodnight.
-
Mrs. Moore: Good? You're speaking about power. The whole of this entertainment is an exercise in power, and the subtle pleasures of personal superiority.
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Ali: McBryde. When he first came, Hamidullah said he was quite a good fellow.
Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: But they all become exactly the same. I give any Englishman two years.
Ali: The women are worse.
Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: I give them six months.
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Mrs. Moore: [in the train] Rather a strange place to do the cooking.
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Richard Fielding: I always feel rather embarrassed when people I dislike are good to me.
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McBryde: I've had 25 years' experience here. I have never known anything but disaster result when English and lndians attempt to be intimate.
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Dr. Aziz H. Ahmed: And I know what you're going to ask next. You're going to ask me to let her off paying 20,000 rupees, right? Then, if I agree, the English will be able to say "Here is an lndian that almost behaved like a gentleman." "But for the colour of his face, we might even let him join the club."
A Passage to India Quotes
Extended Reading
