Sharpe Quotes
[After Sharpe has killed three French Dragoons to save Wellesley's life]
Arthur Wellesley: I'm much obliged to you. You've done me a damn good turn. Now I'm going to do you a damn bad one. I'm giving you a field commission, Sharpe. As of now you're a lieutenant in the 95th!
Arthur Wellesley: I'm much obliged to you. You've done me a damn good turn. Now I'm going to do you a damn bad one. I'm giving you a field commission, Sharpe. As of now you're a lieutenant in the 95th!
TV Show: Sharpe
[Richard Sharpe is asserting his authority over Patrick Harper and the other soldiers under his command]
Sharpe: What is that? Liquor? Liquor displeases the Lord. Give it here so I can destroy it.
Cooper: Oh blimey, a bloody methodist.
[Sharpe acts like he's going to tip the liquor out]
Harper: That's best brandy, sir.
[Sharpe drinks the liquor instead]
Sharpe: What is that? Liquor? Liquor displeases the Lord. Give it here so I can destroy it.
Cooper: Oh blimey, a bloody methodist.
[Sharpe acts like he's going to tip the liquor out]
Harper: That's best brandy, sir.
[Sharpe drinks the liquor instead]
TV Show: Sharpe
Teresa: If you were French, I would take a knife and you would tell me all I wanted to know.
Sharpe: But we are allies.
Teresa: Allies? Do allies keep secrets from each other?
Sharpe: Lovers keep secrets from each other, yet they still make love.
Sharpe: But we are allies.
Teresa: Allies? Do allies keep secrets from each other?
Sharpe: Lovers keep secrets from each other, yet they still make love.
TV Show: Sharpe
Teresa: We have two ears, but only one mouth; so a good leader will listen twice as much as he shouts.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: What've you got there Harper?
Harper: Just a wee wild bird.
Sharpe: Won't it fly away?
Harper: No. It trusts me.
Sharpe: But you're gonna put it in a cage.
Harper: It knows it'll get a few crumbs in a cage.
Sharpe: I thought wild things like their freedom.
Harper: Freedom to starve is no freedom.
Sharpe: Is that why you joined the British Army?
Harper: Just a wee wild bird.
Sharpe: Won't it fly away?
Harper: No. It trusts me.
Sharpe: But you're gonna put it in a cage.
Harper: It knows it'll get a few crumbs in a cage.
Sharpe: I thought wild things like their freedom.
Harper: Freedom to starve is no freedom.
Sharpe: Is that why you joined the British Army?
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: You fight dirty, Harper.
Harper: So do you, sir.
[Teresa walks up to them.]
Sharpe: Hope you slept well, miss.
Teresa: I slept safely, thank you. [leaves]
Harper: Now that, sir, is a woman worth fighting dirty for.
Harper: So do you, sir.
[Teresa walks up to them.]
Sharpe: Hope you slept well, miss.
Teresa: I slept safely, thank you. [leaves]
Harper: Now that, sir, is a woman worth fighting dirty for.
TV Show: Sharpe
Cooper: Can I ask you a question, sir? Where did you learn to fight so dirty, sir?
Sharpe: Same place as you, Cooper: Saturday night in the gutters.
Cooper: Long way from home, sir.
Sharpe: Never was much of a home, Cooper.
Cooper: No, sir. That it weren't.
Sharpe: Did you volunteer for this lot, Cooper?
Cooper: Erm, no, not exactly, sir. I was "invited" to join... by a magistrate.
Sharpe: Same place as you, Cooper: Saturday night in the gutters.
Cooper: Long way from home, sir.
Sharpe: Never was much of a home, Cooper.
Cooper: No, sir. That it weren't.
Sharpe: Did you volunteer for this lot, Cooper?
Cooper: Erm, no, not exactly, sir. I was "invited" to join... by a magistrate.
TV Show: Sharpe
Man in Black: You say you are an Irishman. Why should you be loyal to the British dogs, who want to take you to Lisbon to shoot you?
Harper: Jesus, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Man in Black: I can help you. Give me the box.
Harper: And if I do?
Man in Black: You will be rich.
Harper: And if I don't?
Man in Black: You will be dead.
Harper: Hmm... well, you're having the best of the argument so far.
Harper: Jesus, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Man in Black: I can help you. Give me the box.
Harper: And if I do?
Man in Black: You will be rich.
Harper: And if I don't?
Man in Black: You will be dead.
Harper: Hmm... well, you're having the best of the argument so far.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: Gimme a pick-lock, Cooper.
Cooper: Pick-lock, sir? Catch me with a pick-lock!
Harper: They did, Coop. But when you got out of Newgate prison, you got another set, and that's the one the officer wants.
Cooper: Do I get it back, sir?
Sharpe: Trust me.
Cooper: It's very hard to trust a man who wants to borrow your pick-lock, sir.
Cooper: Pick-lock, sir? Catch me with a pick-lock!
Harper: They did, Coop. But when you got out of Newgate prison, you got another set, and that's the one the officer wants.
Cooper: Do I get it back, sir?
Sharpe: Trust me.
Cooper: It's very hard to trust a man who wants to borrow your pick-lock, sir.
TV Show: Sharpe
Harper: You'll make a grand killin' officer, sir.
Sharpe: Killin' officer?
Harper: Huh. You comin' up from the ranks, I thought you woulda known. There are two kinds of officers, sir: killin' officers and murderin' officers. Killin' officers are poor old buggers that get you killed by mistake. Murderin' officers are mad, bad, old buggers that get you killed on purpose - for a country, for a religion, maybe even for a flag. You see that Major Hogan, sir? That's what I call a murderin' officer.
Sharpe: Killin' officer?
Harper: Huh. You comin' up from the ranks, I thought you woulda known. There are two kinds of officers, sir: killin' officers and murderin' officers. Killin' officers are poor old buggers that get you killed by mistake. Murderin' officers are mad, bad, old buggers that get you killed on purpose - for a country, for a religion, maybe even for a flag. You see that Major Hogan, sir? That's what I call a murderin' officer.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: Who fired that shot?
[Perkins is holding the smoking rifle]
Sharpe: [looks him up and down] Give him yours, Pat.
[Harper pulls his arm-band, the mark of a Chosen man from his pouch, and hands it to Perkins]
Hogan: [to Perkins] Take my advice, laddie, give it back.
[Perkins is holding the smoking rifle]
Sharpe: [looks him up and down] Give him yours, Pat.
[Harper pulls his arm-band, the mark of a Chosen man from his pouch, and hands it to Perkins]
Hogan: [to Perkins] Take my advice, laddie, give it back.
TV Show: Sharpe
Hogan: Wellesley's gonna take the army into Spain. It'll be bugles, battles and bags of glory. Stick with me, Richard, I'll see you right.
Sharpe: You'll see me dead, sir.
Hogan: [laughs] Oh, that's my boy.
Sharpe: You'll see me dead, sir.
Hogan: [laughs] Oh, that's my boy.
TV Show: Sharpe
[of the South Essex]
Sharpe: They're flogged soldiers, sir. And flogging teaches a soldier only one lesson.
Hogan: What's that, Richard?
Sharpe: How to turn his back.
Sharpe: They're flogged soldiers, sir. And flogging teaches a soldier only one lesson.
Hogan: What's that, Richard?
Sharpe: How to turn his back.
TV Show: Sharpe
[after an altercation between Sharpe and Lieutenants Gibbons and Berry: ]
Gibbons: Major Hogan! I have been struck, by a common soldier! I believe the penalty for striking an officer is death.
Hogan: Death is certainly the penalty for striking that officer, sir. That was Sharpe of the 95th.
Gibbons: What, the ragamuffin that jumped from the ranks? By God, sir, I'll teach him to touch a gentleman. I'll call him out, sir. I'll see him at dawn.
Berry: I'll second you, old boy.
Hogan: A duel? Oh, give me your hand, sir. You've a brave fellow, Gibbons. Sharpe's a killer. Killed three French cavalrymen and saved Wellesley's life. Three seconds, slash, cut, thrust. And that's while he was still a Sergeant. Shall we say six o'clock tomorrow morning in the field behind the camp? Or shall we say it was damned dark, and you made a damn bad mistake?
[A long pause]
Gibbons: Silly mistake. Say no more about it, eh?
Hogan: Good thinking, Gibbons. Sharpe would've shot out your left eye at a minute past six, and you would've spent all day tomorrow looking up at nothing with the other.
Gibbons: Major Hogan! I have been struck, by a common soldier! I believe the penalty for striking an officer is death.
Hogan: Death is certainly the penalty for striking that officer, sir. That was Sharpe of the 95th.
Gibbons: What, the ragamuffin that jumped from the ranks? By God, sir, I'll teach him to touch a gentleman. I'll call him out, sir. I'll see him at dawn.
Berry: I'll second you, old boy.
Hogan: A duel? Oh, give me your hand, sir. You've a brave fellow, Gibbons. Sharpe's a killer. Killed three French cavalrymen and saved Wellesley's life. Three seconds, slash, cut, thrust. And that's while he was still a Sergeant. Shall we say six o'clock tomorrow morning in the field behind the camp? Or shall we say it was damned dark, and you made a damn bad mistake?
[A long pause]
Gibbons: Silly mistake. Say no more about it, eh?
Hogan: Good thinking, Gibbons. Sharpe would've shot out your left eye at a minute past six, and you would've spent all day tomorrow looking up at nothing with the other.
TV Show: Sharpe
Major Lennox: Sir Henry says it keeps their chin up.
Sharpe: [disgustedly] There's better ways to keep a chin up.
Major Lennox: Sharpe isn't it? Made a name for yourself in India. Battle of Assaye, if I recall.
Sharpe: I saw the 78th advance at Assaye. Man who made a name for himself that day was a major of the 78th. Man by the name of Lennox.
Major Lennox: Ah, a long time ago. I had a life soldiering, then they retired me. My wife died. The South Essex was the best I could get. But thank you for reminding me I used to be a damn good soldier. Now wipe your boots and I'll take you to meet a damn bad one. [Meaning Simmerson]
Sharpe: [disgustedly] There's better ways to keep a chin up.
Major Lennox: Sharpe isn't it? Made a name for yourself in India. Battle of Assaye, if I recall.
Sharpe: I saw the 78th advance at Assaye. Man who made a name for himself that day was a major of the 78th. Man by the name of Lennox.
Major Lennox: Ah, a long time ago. I had a life soldiering, then they retired me. My wife died. The South Essex was the best I could get. But thank you for reminding me I used to be a damn good soldier. Now wipe your boots and I'll take you to meet a damn bad one. [Meaning Simmerson]
TV Show: Sharpe
Sir Henry Simmerson: Wellesley, ha! Wellesley don't know what makes a good soldier! Not many do. Do you know what makes a good soldier Mister Sharpe?
Sharpe: Yes, Sir.
Sir Henry Simmerson: And what makes a good soldier, Sharpe?
Sharpe: The ability to fire three rounds a minute in any weather, sir.
Sharpe: Yes, Sir.
Sir Henry Simmerson: And what makes a good soldier, Sharpe?
Sharpe: The ability to fire three rounds a minute in any weather, sir.
TV Show: Sharpe
Hogan: You've lost the colours, Sir. The king's own colours, touched by his own hand. Take my advice, and a pistol, and go behind that tent, and blow out what's left of your brains.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: At a place called Assaye I saw a whole army ready to turn and run. Then a Major of the 78th took a step to his front and steadied the line. Major Lennox.
Ensign Denny: I thought he was just an old man.
Ensign Denny: I thought he was just an old man.
TV Show: Sharpe
Wellesley: This is a report from Major Hogan which differs somewhat from your account, Sir Henry.
Simmerson: Major Hogan is merely an engineer, sir.
Wellesley: Major Hogan's coat buttons up tight over a number of other duties, Sir Henry. Major Hogan reports a number of losses, Sir Henry. He says you first lost your head, and, instead of destroying the bridge, you marched over it. He says you next lost your nerve, and ran from a small French patrol. He says you lost ten men, a major, and two sergeants. Major Hogan says you then lost your sense of honour, and destroyed the bridge, cutting off a rescue party led by Lieutenant Sharpe. Major Hogan leaves the worst to the last, Sir Henry... he says you lost the King's Colours.
Simmerson: The fault was not mine, Sir. Major Lennox must answer.
Wellesley: [shouting] Major Lennox answered with his LIFE! As you should have done if you had any sense of honour!
Simmerson: Major Hogan is merely an engineer, sir.
Wellesley: Major Hogan's coat buttons up tight over a number of other duties, Sir Henry. Major Hogan reports a number of losses, Sir Henry. He says you first lost your head, and, instead of destroying the bridge, you marched over it. He says you next lost your nerve, and ran from a small French patrol. He says you lost ten men, a major, and two sergeants. Major Hogan says you then lost your sense of honour, and destroyed the bridge, cutting off a rescue party led by Lieutenant Sharpe. Major Hogan leaves the worst to the last, Sir Henry... he says you lost the King's Colours.
Simmerson: The fault was not mine, Sir. Major Lennox must answer.
Wellesley: [shouting] Major Lennox answered with his LIFE! As you should have done if you had any sense of honour!
TV Show: Sharpe
Wellesley: [After announcing that the South Essex will be stood down]The light company put up a fight, so I will let it stand under a new commander.
Simmerson: Under the newly gazetted Captain Gibbons?
Wellesley: Under the newly gazetted Captain Sharpe.
Simmerson: Under the newly gazetted Captain Gibbons?
Wellesley: Under the newly gazetted Captain Sharpe.
TV Show: Sharpe
Captain Leroy: We have to stop him.
Harper: You can't stop Captain Sharpe, sir. You can walk away from him or you can stand behind him, but don't ever try and get in his way.
Harper: You can't stop Captain Sharpe, sir. You can walk away from him or you can stand behind him, but don't ever try and get in his way.
TV Show: Sharpe
[Sharpe is bathing, Matthews sees the scars of his flogging on his back, and assumes he's a common soldier.]
Ensign Matthews: For what crime were you flogged?
Sharpe: Who are you, then?
Matthews: What business is it of yours, damn you! Gad, I'll have you flogged again, for you've not learned a lesson it seems.
Sharpe: Eh? Nah, I command the Light Company. You?
Matthews: [backpedaling] I regret, I am Matthews, sir, William. Ensign the South Essex.
Sharpe: Sharpe, Richard, Captain the 95th. I command the Light Company of the South Essex, for the time being. [His voice falters at the end, because the officer riding past is his replacement.]
Matthews: I do beg your pardon, sir.
Sharpe: You saw my back, Matthews. I was flogged for something I never did. You will often be blamed for something you might not have done. But, being an officer, you will never be flogged. Even for something that you will do.
Ensign Matthews: For what crime were you flogged?
Sharpe: Who are you, then?
Matthews: What business is it of yours, damn you! Gad, I'll have you flogged again, for you've not learned a lesson it seems.
Sharpe: Eh? Nah, I command the Light Company. You?
Matthews: [backpedaling] I regret, I am Matthews, sir, William. Ensign the South Essex.
Sharpe: Sharpe, Richard, Captain the 95th. I command the Light Company of the South Essex, for the time being. [His voice falters at the end, because the officer riding past is his replacement.]
Matthews: I do beg your pardon, sir.
Sharpe: You saw my back, Matthews. I was flogged for something I never did. You will often be blamed for something you might not have done. But, being an officer, you will never be flogged. Even for something that you will do.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: Obadiah, and a blackguardly officer called Morris, once beat a native Indian half to death for sport, until I stopped them. They blamed me for it, and I was flogged. Watch him, Pat. He preys on the men. He'll snaffle kit, belts, frogs, haversacks, all entered or found lost by Obadiah, which leads to floggings unless he gets paid. Then wives. He beats men till their wives come to him, which I call rape. I've seen his like before. An evil man marching in a cloud of pipeclay. And because he kicks up salutes, obeys every officer, he's bombproof to all but us. We who come up from the ranks, we're smart to him.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: The Forlorn Hope are dead men the hour their names are called. First up the wall of the breach, first to die. Blown apart by mine or cannon. That it is why it's called Forlorn.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: My lord?
Wellesley: Sharpe?
Sharpe: I would like to be given command of the Forlorn Hope, my lord.
Wellesley: I think you're a rogue, Sharpe. But you're one of my rogues and you're on my side. I don't want you dead.
Wellesley: Sharpe?
Sharpe: I would like to be given command of the Forlorn Hope, my lord.
Wellesley: I think you're a rogue, Sharpe. But you're one of my rogues and you're on my side. I don't want you dead.
TV Show: Sharpe
Sharpe: They say you can't be killed, Sergeant Hakeswill. It is known. "Come with me, my lads, for I cannot die. I'm going to live for ever, for they tried to hang me once but did... not... do it." I could almost believe it. Except in the case of someone you tried to kill, Sergeant Hakeswill... and did... not... do it. I wonder who that might be, Sergeant. You're a dead man, Obadiah. BANG!
TV Show: Sharpe