The Birth of a Nation Quotes
Abraham Lincoln: [Lincoln, on his policy for the defeated Southern states] I shall deal with them as though they had never been away.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Col. Ben Cameron: [to Elsie, whose portrait he has been carrying] Though we had never met, I have carried you about with me for a long, long time.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Elsie Stoneman: [Ben is to be hanged. Elsie has an idea] We will ask mercy from the Great Heart.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Flora Cameron: [letter to Ben] - and you have really grown a moustache - oh my! I'm just dying, dying to see you. Well, I'm growing up too - they say I'm such a big girl now you wouldn't know me. XXXXXX Kisses Your little
[crossed out]
Flora Cameron: big Sis
[crossed out]
Flora Cameron: big Sis
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: This is an historical presentation of the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, and is not meant to reflect on any race or people of today.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: [Margaret cannot speak to Phil] Bitter memories will not allow the poor bruised heart of the South to forget.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: Second Part - Reconstruction. The agony which the South endured that a nation might be born. The blight of war does not end when hostilities cease.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: The white men were roused by a mere instinct of self-preservation... until at last there had sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan, a veritable empire of the South, to protect the Southern country. WOODROW WILSON
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: [at end of film] Liberty and union, one and inseparable, now and forever!
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: A PLEA FOR THE ART OF THE MOTION PICTURE / We do not fear censorship, for we have no wish to offend with improprieties or obscenities, but we do demand, as a right, the liberty to show the dark side of wrong, that we may illuminate the bright side of virtue - the same liberty that is conceded to the art of the written word - the art to which we owe the Bible and the works of Shakespeare.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: Excerpts from Woodrow Wilson's History of the American People;... Adventurers swarmed out of the North, as much enemies of the one race as of the other, to cozen, beguile, and use the negroes.... In the villages the negroes were the office holders, men who knew none of the uses of authority, except its insolences.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: [Flora has jumped to her death to escape Gus] For her who had learned the stern lesson of honor we should not grieve that she found sweeter the opal gates of death.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: Over four hundred thousand Ku Klux costumes made by the women of the South and not one trust betrayed.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: While youth dances the night away, childhood and old age slumber.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
intertitle: [Sherman's march] While women and children weep, a great conqueror marches to the sea.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Mammy: [to a servant from the North, who attempts to make her carry his bags] You' northern lown down black trash, don't try no airs on me.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Mammy: [Mammy and servant from North circle each other and glare] Dem free-niggers f'um de N'of am sho' crazy.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Mrs. Cameron: [Lincoln signs a pardon for Ben] Mr. Lincoln has given back your life to me.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Mrs. Cameron: [Northern solider is trying to keep wounded Ben's mother out of hospital] I am going into that room to my boy. You may shoot if you want to.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Mrs. Cameron: [Lincoln signs a pardon for Ben] Mr. Lincoln has given back your life to me.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Nat Turner: [after Nat watches a horrific scene between a slave and slave owner and has to preach to the slaves]Brethren, I pray you'll sing to the Lord, a new song. Sing praise in assembly of the righteous. Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praise of God be on the mouths of the saints and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance on the demonic nations! And punishment on those peoples! To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fens of iron! To execute on them this written judgement! This honor have all his saints! PRAISE THE LORD! PRAISE THE LORD! SING TO HIM A NEW SONG! PRAISE THE LORD! PRAISE THE LORD!
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Nat Turner: You need to tell me who done this to you. 'Cause I'm gonna take care of it, you hear? On my soul. I need you to tell me now.
Cherry: Put up again thy sword into His place. For all they that take the sword... shall pass with the sword. You taught me that.
Cherry: Put up again thy sword into His place. For all they that take the sword... shall pass with the sword. You taught me that.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Title Card: Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever - Thomas Jefferson, 1785
Movie: The Birth of a Nation
Elizabeth Turner: These books are for white folks. They're full of things your kind wouldn't understand.
Movie: The Birth of a Nation