Peter Ustinov: Trending quotes

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Peter Ustinov: 118 quotes69 likes

“Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich.”

Achtung! Vorurteile (2003); original German: "Der Terrorismus, der im furchtbaren 11. September kulminierte, ist ein Krieg der Armen gegen die Reichen. Der Krieg ist ein Terrorismus der Reichen gegen die Armen." typically cited in short: "Terrorismus ist der Krieg der Armen und der Krieg ist der Terrorismus der Reichen."

“I imagine hell like this: Italian punctuality, German humour and English wine.”

“The point of living, and of being an optimist, is to be foolish enough to believe the best is yet to come.”

BBC obituary (2004)

“I hate being moved. I hate that man who came in. So self-righteous, so cruel. He made fun of me, that's why I cried. You never did that. You led me into temptation by your — politeness.”

The Loser : A Novel (1960)

“To refuse awards is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal.”

BBC obituary (2004)

“To all those who by accident or design, have not been included in this book.”

Peter Ustinov book Dear Me

Dedication page
Dear Me (1977)

“2nd Soldier: Do you mean that, as a General, you're not the tiniest bit ambitious for our military future?
General: I prefer our military past. The harm's done and there it is. As for being a General, well, at the age of four with paper hats and wooden swords, we're all Generals. Only some of us never grow out of it.”

Peter Ustinov Romanoff and Juliet

Act I
Romanoff and Juliet (1956)

“Billy Budd: You didn't even hate him. I think that sometimes you hate yourself. I was thinking, sir, the nights are lonely. Perhaps I could talk with you between watches when you've nothing else to do.
Claggert: Lonely. What do you know of loneliness?
Billy Budd: Them's alone that want to be.
Claggert: Nights are long. Conversation helps pass the time.
Billy Budd: Can I talk to you again, then? It would mean a lot to me.
Claggert: Perhaps to me, too. [His expression suddenly sours] Oh, no. You would charm me too, huh? Get away.”

Billy Budd (1962)

“I'd rather be buried at sea than on the shore when I come to die. Will you stand by the plank, mates, so I can shake a friendly hand before I sink?”

Billy Budd
Billy Budd (1962)

“Good-bye to you too ol' Rights of Man!”

Bill Budd, as he is impressed into service aboard the warship HMS Avenger
Billy Budd (1962)

“I'm convinced there's a small room in the attic of the Foreign Office where future diplomats are taught to stammer.”

As quoted in Words and Their Masters (1974) by Israel Shenker, p. 170

“Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth.”

As quoted in The Book of Quotes (1979) by Barbara Rowes, p. 164

“Critics search for ages for the wrong word, which, to give them credit, they eventually find.”

BBC obituary (2004)

“Life was cheap in the Middle Ages. It has become cheaper since. It is only in specific battles for specific lives that our culture is put to the test, and with it our humanity.”

Peter Ustinov book Dear Me

p, 125
Dear Me (1977)

“The truth is really an ambition which is beyond us.”

As quoted in International Herald Tribune (12 March 1990)

“Basically I'm a very serious person, but I think the form it takes with me is comedy. I see the amusing side of all potentially pompous situations.”

BBC obituary (2004)

“Corruption is nature's way of restoring our faith in democracy.”

As quoted in Backstabbing for Beginners : My Crash Course in International Diplomacy (2008) by Michael Soussan, p. 316

“Sex is a conversation carried out by other means.”

As quoted in Marriages and Families (1997) by Mary Ann Lamanna, p. 69

“I have Russian, German, Spanish, Italian, French and Ethiopian blood in my veins.”

As quoted in TIME magazine obituary, (5 April 2004) http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040412-607849,00.html, p. 22, which noted that his great-grandfather had married the Princess of Ethiopia.

“Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them.”

2000 Years of Disbelief : Famous People with the Courage to Doubt (1996) by James A. Haught