Chariots of Fire (1981)

John Gielgud: Master of Trinity

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Quotes 

• Master of Trinity : This Abrahams. What do you know about him?

  Master of Caius : Repton chap. Jewish. His father"s a financier in the city.

  Master of Trinity : Financier. What"s that supposed to mean, I wonder?

  Master of Caius : I imagine he lends money.

  Master of Trinity : Exactly. And what do they say about the son?

  Master of Caius : Academically sound. Arrogant. Defensive to the point of pugnacity.

  Master of Trinity : As they invariably are.

  Master of Caius : Yet possessing a keen sense of duty and loyalty.

  Master of Trinity : Do they say he can run?

  Master of Caius : Like the wind.

• Master of Caius : It"s said that you use a personal coach.

  Harold M. Abrahams : Mr. Mussabini, yes.

  Master of Trinity : Is he an Italian?

  Harold M. Abrahams : Of Italian extraction, yes.

  Master of Trinity : I see.

  Harold M. Abrahams : But not all Italian.

  Master of Trinity : I"m relieved to hear it.

  Harold M. Abrahams : He"s half Arab.

• Master of Trinity : For the past year, you"ve concentrated wholly on developing your own technique in the headlong pursuit, may I suggest, of individual glory. Not a policy very conducive to the fostering of esprit de corps.

  Harold M. Abrahams : I am a Cambridge man, first and last. I am an Englishman, first and last. What I have achieved - what I intend to achieve - is for my family, my university, and my country. And I bitterly resent your suggesting otherwise.

  Master of Caius : Your aim is to win at all costs, is it not?

  Harold M. Abrahams : At all costs, no. But I do aim to win within the rules.

• Master of Trinity : My dear boy, your approach has been, if I may say so, a little too plebeian. You are the elite - and are therefore expected to behave as such.

• Master of Trinity : Here in Cambridge, we"ve always been proud of our athletic prowess. We believe - we"ve always believed - that our games are indispensable in helping to complete the education of an Englishman. They create character they foster courage, honesty and leadership. But most of all, an unassailable spirit of loyalty, comradeship, and mutual responsibility. Would you agree?

  Harold M. Abrahams : Yes, sir. I would.

  Master of Trinity : Abrahams, there is a growing suspicion in the bosom of this university - and I tell you this without in any way decrying your achievements, in which we all rejoice - that in your enthusiasm for success, you have perhaps lost sight of some of these ideals.

• Master of Trinity : Life slips by, Abrahams - life slips by!